Lotus U- Electric Exclusive Plan Announces Hybrid Tech

Lotus Emira sports car, after all, is not the last car of the brand with a gas engine.

The automaker unveiled a new plug-in hybrid technology called the hyper-hybrid EV powertrain, using the 2024 Guangzhou Motor Show in China last week.

While the powertrain is still in development, Lotus said the car equipped with it covers a distance of 684 miles using a mixture of gasoline and electricity stored in the battery Lotus also said the electric side of the powertrain will use a 900-volt technology that allows quick charging times when using a DC fast charger.

The gas engine will be used as a generator to charge the battery, and it will power the electric motor, a set-up called the Series hybrid, and what Lotus calls ultra-fast on-the-drive charging. Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng said during an investor call on Thursday that the gas engine can charge the battery faster than electricity is used in regular driving.

Lotus did not say when and in which cars the hyper-hybrid EV powertrain will be launched. The automaker also did not say which gas engine it will use, but a hybrid-optimized engine from parent company Geely's new horsepower engine supplier

Lotus initially planned to make Emira the final car with a gas engine, but like other automakers, including Geely-owned brand Volvo. Lotus has found that demand growth for EVs is much slower than expected. Lotus said the launch of the hybrid powertrain will help it keep up with evolving market demand.

The hybrid powertrain also allows Lotus to avoid tariffs aimed at its Chinese-made Ev. For example, the customs rules of the European Union exempt plug-in hybrid vehicles.

In addition to Emira, Lotus offers Evija, Eletre, and Emeya EVs. Its sales are growing steadily throughout the year, with deliveries in the first 9 months of 2024 exceeding 7,600 units, up 136% year-on-year. The bulk of sales is Emira, which accounts for about 47% of the total. Lotus still reports an operating loss ofド598 million, but revenue also doubled toド653 million during the period, up 18% from the previous year.