Lotus EV

graham · 01-01-2009, 09:02 PM

Apparently Lotus intends to introduce their new EV at the Geneva Motor show event. Should be interesting if the Model S will be introduced there as well.

Business finance news - currency market news - online UK currency markets - financial news - Interactive Investor

Quote:

Sports car manufacturer Lotus has announced that it is to produce an electric powered vehicle. The car could be shown for the first time, in concept form, at the Geneva motor show in March.

Lotus chief executive, Michael Kimberley told the Financial Times; "don't be surprised to see an electric Lotus shortly; we are working on the technology that will go behind it".

The move will pitch Lotus against existing electric vehicle manufacturers such as Tesla Motors, for which Lotus currently assembles bodies for its Roadster model, at its Norfolk factory.

JRP3 · 01-02-2009, 07:40 AM

Hybrid

FT.com / UK - Lotus plans electric sports car

Quote:

The car, like General Motors' planned Volt, will be equipped with a fuel-based "range extender" to back up its battery. Lotus may show it in concept form at the Geneva motor show in March.

http://globalmotors.net/lotus-plans-...ic-sports-car/

graham · 01-02-2009, 08:26 AM

I assume this means it at least has a plug? You would think it would with the Range Extended EV terminology that they are using - but I am not sure I trust even that without it being explicitly stated.

dpeilow · 01-02-2009, 09:34 AM

Hmm, with an engine and batteries, I doubt this will be squeezed into an Elise or its derivatives. Evora anyone? Maybe that Zap X thing.

Quote:

With support from the Department for Trade and Industry, it is working with a "major automotive manufacturer" on a range extender and other parts for an electric car, Mr Kimberley said.

I'll start the speculation - they already have a well established relationship with Toyota and we know Toyota knows a thing or two about hybrids...

As an aside:

Quote:

In mid-December, while most UK car plants were closing for long holiday breaks, Lotus's factory in Hethel, Norfolk, was hard at work.

In an abysmal year for Britain's niche luxury carmakers like Aston Martin, Jaguar/Land Rover and Bentley, Lotus has fared better thanks to consulting work for clients like Tesla.

Exactly why I don't think the others should get a bailout. What's the point in smart companies trying to stay ahead of the game if the government alters the playing field?

EDIT: ABG picks it up: Lotus set to challenge Tesla and Fisker with extended range EV - AutoblogGreen

doug · 01-02-2009, 11:06 AM

It's been mentioned before that Evora would make a good name for an EV... EVora, as it were.
I'm still hoping the Roadster can get an Evora interior upgrade.

.

siry · 01-02-2009, 12:04 PM

I doubt it would be the APX because they would have to fund development of a whole new vehicle platform and why spend the money on that when you have just invested a significant amount on the Eagle platform.

The Eagle is interesting because you can use the +2 area for packaging part of the powertrain. So in theory they could have the engine/genset in the place where the engine is today and package batteries in the +2 area. Assuming they would use iron phosphate or a similar high power/cycle life cell then the total volume of that area is not likely to give you a very good range before the genset kicks in.

malcolm · 01-02-2009, 12:06 PM

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.

Even if an EREV doesn't float your boat, it's all good for reducing the number of petrol miles driven.

graham · 01-02-2009, 01:34 PM

Quote:

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.

Oh God! No more lawsuits, please!

dpeilow · 01-03-2009, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siry

I doubt it would be the APX because they would have to fund development of a whole new vehicle platform and why spend the money on that when you have just invested a significant amount on the Eagle platform.

Wikipedia suggests that the Zap X project has been cancelled:

Quote:

At some time in late 2008, all traces of the ZAP-X were removed from ZAP's website, suggesting that the project had been canceled

Do we know if anything concrete was developed for this or was it all vapourware?

Quote:

Originally Posted by siry

The Eagle is interesting because you can use the +2 area for packaging part of the powertrain. So in theory they could have the engine/genset in the place where the engine is today and package batteries in the +2 area. Assuming they would use iron phosphate or a similar high power/cycle life cell then the total volume of that area is not likely to give you a very good range before the genset kicks in.

EVORA: Electric Vehicle with Onboard Range Augmentation

So is this a hint that it could be a Lotus-GM or Lotus-A123 tie up? Or am I reading too much into your post Darryl? Certainly Lotus and GM have been bedfellows in the past too (as the article mentions).

I've only seen the Evora on a spinning turntable at the motor show. Could you get the Tesla battery in the +2 area - particularly if a smaller ICE than the Toyota unit was used.? A similar sized iron phosphate battery would give a good range by REEV standards but be heavy in conjunction with the ICE, so maybe we are back to Volt electric range. Or maybe they will not go with iron phosphate.

Quote:

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

Should be interesting...