Lotus EV - Page 2

Cobos · 01-03-2009, 02:23 AM

Wouldn't this be standard conditions in the contract Tesla and Lotus surely have signed. Non-compete clauses are pretty normal aren't they ?

Cobos

JRP3 · 01-03-2009, 06:23 AM

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Originally Posted by dpeilow

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It "will become one of the showcases for the world of what you can do with electric vehicle technology".

Should be interesting...

Batteries and a generator? Yawn. I guess I'm an EV purist

Hybrids have their uses but the beauty of an EV is doing away with all that ICE nonsense.

TEG · 01-03-2009, 09:25 AM

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Originally Posted by malcolm

I imagine that there is some form of agreement with Tesla by which Lotus is restricted in developing a rival BEV for some period of time.

Keep in mind that a fair amount of time has elapsed since Tesla started their relationship with Lotus. Tesla had originally planned to be further along with Roadster and "Model 2" production by now, so letting it end in 2009 might have seemed safer back then. I think Martin mentioned that his non-compete was set to be over now as well. It is possible that any such Lotus agreement might be over by now. (Just speculating though).

TEG · 01-03-2009, 09:45 AM

Recall there have been Lotus hybrid rumblings for quite some time now:

Geneva Motor Show: Lotus unveils EVE Hybrid technology demonstrator - AutoblogGreen
Lotus annouces new Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Group - Autoblog
Hybrid Lotus on the way? - AutoblogGreen

graham · 01-03-2009, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRP3

Batteries and a generator? Yawn. I guess I'm an EV purist

Hybrids have their uses but the beauty of an EV is doing away with all that ICE nonsense.

Yes, and lugging around an unused generator half the time, and a dead battery the other half of the time seems against the "add lightness" mantra there.

graham · 01-03-2009, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TEG

Keep in mind that a fair amount of time has elapsed since Tesla started their relationship with Lotus. Tesla had originally planned to be further along with Roadster and "Model 2" production by now, so letting it end in 2009 might have seemed safer back then.

This was my thought too. The Roadster and the Sedan were supposed to be much farther along by now when the contracts were first drawn up. It has been well documented that other deadlines from those first negotiations were missed (and not by a little). I would suspect if there were any non-compete clauses that they will have expired by the time the new Lotus emerges.

Joseph · 01-03-2009, 11:16 AM

"Yes, and lugging around an unused generator half the time, and a dead battery the other half of the time seems against the "add lightness" mantra there."

Really! What is Lotus thinking?!? If they're going to make an EV, it better be a pure EV, simply not to dilute their whole image.

And quite frankly, EVs are going to be much heavier than ICEs for a while, so even a pure EV would be contrary to Lotus' whole mission.

malcolm · 01-03-2009, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TEG

Tesla had originally planned to be further along with Roadster and "Model 2" production by now, so letting it end in 2009 might have seemed safer back then. I think Martin mentioned that his non-compete was set to be over now as well. It is possible that any such Lotus agreement might be over by now. (Just speculating though).

Mmmmmm interesting

Could Lotus hire Martin?

Just speculating also

dpeilow · 01-03-2009, 12:34 PM

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Originally Posted by Cobos

Wouldn't this be standard conditions in the contract Tesla and Lotus surely have signed. Non-compete clauses are pretty normal aren't they ?

They are when the two parties are fairly equal in size or stature, but I've seen many a situation where the supplier or another company in the supplier's group is effectively competing with one of their retail customers.

Again speculation - but remember this was signed when Tesla was a very small operation and I would be very surprised if Lotus would agree to be limited in producing any EV of their own or indeed that Tesla would be in a position (with regards to having a choice of suppliers) to demand this. Perhaps the scope of any such clause would be very specific in nature.

Of course there are people here who know all this and I could be talking rubbish

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRP3

Batteries and a generator? Yawn. I guess I'm an EV purist

Hybrids have their uses but the beauty of an EV is doing away with all that ICE nonsense.

Quote:

Originally Posted by graham

Yes, and lugging around an unused generator half the time, and a dead battery the other half of the time seems against the "add lightness" mantra there.

Putting my crazy cap on for a minute - what if the gen set used a micro gas turbine? That would be quite 'Lotus'.

I remember a friend of mine working at Rolls-Royce said a modern turbine would be virtually silent in this application and one of around 1000bhp could easily be put in a car. So one of lower power might leave enough spare space and mass to accommodate a decent battery.

doug · 01-03-2009, 01:33 PM

Tesla CEO comments on Lotus EV report - AutoblogGreen

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The FT story did not come as a surprise to Musk. Lotus apparently let Tesla know of its plans in advance and Tesla is hoping to sell some powertrain components to Lotus for the new car.