Chinese-owned British carmaker Lotus has scrapped its plans to only produce electric vehicles (EVs) by 2028, as it responds to changing market conditions.
Speaking to media including UK magazine Autocar at the Guangzhou motor show, Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng said the brand would instead develop range-extender EVs (EREVs) which use a petrol engine to help charge the battery that powers the electric motors.
“At Lotus, we have always chosen the best power technology available, whether it’s pure gasoline, pure electric, hybrid or range-extended [EV],” said Mr Feng.
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Emeya
Mr Feng said that it didn’t want to go down the path of developing plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drivetrains due to perceived driveability compromises, while they also need to be externally charged to fully utilise their EV-only driving capabilities.
EREVs on the other hand drive like an EV all the time, and the petrol motor is only used to provide charge to the battery when it’s depleted, with no physical connection between it and the wheels.
According to Mr Feng, Lotus will aim for the petrol engines of its EREVs – or Super Hybrids, as they’ll be marketed – to charge the onboard battery faster than other vehicles with a similar drivetrain.
Emira
It’s unclear what engine the EREV will use. Lotus’ parent Geely recently formed a new engine division, in partnership with Renault, called Horse.
The only petrol-powered Lotus model on sale, the Emira, offers the choice of a turbocharged four-cylinder engine made by Mercedes-AMG, or a supercharged Toyota V6.
This doesn’t mean Lotus is resting on its laurels and holding back on developing electrical technology, with Mr Feng adding that the EREVs will be based on a 900-volt platform.
He said these vehicles’ batteries will be able to be charged even more quickly than those in EVs – such as from rival Chinese brand Nio – and that they will be replaceable at battery-swapping stations.
At present, the global Lotus lineup is currently represented by the electric Eletre SUV (its best-seller globally), the Emeya sedan and the Evija supercar, as well as the Emira sports car.
Various brands have pushed back their goals for switching to EV-only lineups, including Aston Martin and Bentley.
