Report : Lotus plans their own electric sports car

Lotus is not new to electric cars. They are responsible for assembling the basic structure and body for the Tesla Roadster (it is an all-electric car based on the Lotus Elise). In addition to that, they're currently helping Dodge to make the EV (it is an all-electric car based on the Lotus Europa). So Lotus has the experience to make an electric sports car, that is why they are planning to do it.

Technologically speaking this electric sports car will be similar to Chevrolet's Volt and Fisker's Karma. It will be equipped with a fuel-based “range extender” engine that doesn't move the wheels, but it backs up the wheel-driving battery engine when it's out of electricity . Performance wise it will probably be similar to the Tesla Roadster.

“Don’t be surprised to see an electric Lotus shortly,” Michael Kimberley, chief executive of Lotus, told the Financial Times. “We are working on the technologies that will go behind it.”

The car’s range extender would allow it to drive 300 to 400 miles on a single tank of petrol, Mr Kimberley said. “It will become one of the showcases for the world of what you can do with electric vehicle technology”.

So it seems that Lotus is ready to get into the electric sports car market. Infact, Lotus might show the concept already as early as the Geneva Motor Show in March. Perhaps then, Lotus can do it better with their electric sports car than Tesla or Dodge.

Source: [Financial Times]