Lotus hybrid sports car like Chevrolet Volt -- sort of

[scottf200]

Lotus hybrid sports car like Chevrolet Volt -- sort of
By James R. Healey, USA TODAY

Lotus, once a maker of gorgeous sports cars and now mainly an engineering technology company that also builds cars, has its own prototype extended-range hybrid, to show off the company's tech portfolio.

The Lotus Evora 414E runs via battery-power electric motors and is undergoing on-road testing ahead of schedule, Lotus says.

Like the Chevrolet Volt extended-range hybrid, the Lotus prototype has an internal-combustion engine charging system aboard, so you don't have to worry about the batteries running down when there's no place to plug in.

Lotus says the Evora 414E is a no-compromise high-performance machine. The maker claims 408 horsepower and a remarkable 738 pounds-feet of torque from

The electric motors. Standstill to 60 mph: 4 seconds, Lotus says, which is getting into the rocket-like arena of a fast motorcycle. Top speed is given as 130 mph.

The engine is a three-cylinder that will run on either gasoline or alcohol fuels. As in the Chevy system, it drives a generator to keep the batteries juiced, but the Lotus alsocan drive the car directly. The Volt engine drives the car directly only under a rare set of circumstances.

Lotus supplies the bodies used by electric-car maker Tesla for its battery-driven sports car.

[Noel Park]

VERY cool!

[Raymondjram]

Since Tesla built the original Roadster EV with Lotus bodies, will Lotus return the favor and use Tesla's technolgy to power this new EREV? The specs seems very impressive and can overtake Fisker for the sport EREV leadership.

I am expecting GM to produce its own performance EREV with a Voltec powered Corvette.

[Jason M. Hendler]

scottf200,

You forgot the most important part - it has " a custom designed seven speed Xtrac transmisson", according to the article on InsideEVs:

Link

To me, the transmission was always the missing piece in EV designs, and it has now made it's way into a very compelling package. If Lotus doesn't produce this vehicle, I suspect many automakers may purchase the drivetrain for their EREV efforts - maybe even Tesla Motors, given their previous working relationship with Lotus, and the eventual need to broaden their offerings.

[Bzzzt]

Seven speed? Best question there is why? For the engine, somehow?

If its a stick, you'd really have to watch the tach. No audible clues on electric.

[saghost]

scottf200,

You forgot the most important part - it has " a custom designed seven speed Xtrac transmisson", according to the article on InsideEVs:

That part is odd. The flexible power delivery of a modern electric motor makes a transmission that complex (and heavy) hard to justify. The back EMF argument might justfiy a couple very widely spaced gears for a car that spends a lot of time over the legal limit, but Tesla had problems making that work, and no one else I know of is proposing it, including the electric supercars like the C-X75 and Rimac.

On the other hand, if the gas engine is a range extender and not a significant player in acceleration, it doesn't need a fancy transmission that much, either. VW's bluemotion PHEV has only a single gear as I understand it - something in the typical 5th or 6th gear range for freeway cruising efficiency. If it has to use engine power anywhere else, it runs in series with no mechanical connection. (~90% of the Volt's benefits with less complexity in the control logic. If they bring it to market it could make a great competitor. )