Lotus to offer hybrids in future as EV demand falls

1. Lotus Super Hybrid tech could offer over 1,000km range
2. Brand had rejected PHEV powertrains earlier

Lotus Super Hybrid tech in the works

Lotus Group CEO Feng Qingfeng said that as part of its hybrid powertrain strategy, Lotus will develop a 'Super Hybrid' technology. This is basically a turbocharged combustion engine with ultra-fast plug-in charging that would extend overall range to over 1,000km.

He didn’t specify which models would receive the hybrid drivetrain, but Lotus could upgrade the Eletre SUV and Emeya sedan with the technology, as well as add it to the upcoming Porsche Macan-rivalling SUV.

“At Lotus, we have always chosen the best power technology available, whether it’s pure gasoline, pure electric, hybrid or range-extended [EV],” Qingfeng told the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) in an interview. Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and range-extender hybrids have soared in popularity in China in recent months, forcing some carmakers to refocus model development to cover demand.

The luxury segment in which Lotus competes has been stubbornly resistant to moving to EVs, with customers preferring to stick to ICE models. The benefits of going electric are less pronounced at the top end, believes Feng. “Luxury car engines are already very powerful, and the driving experience is quite similar, with eight-cylinder and 12-cylinder engines performing well,” he told the WSJ.

Lotus originally rejected PHEV drivetrains due to their compromises in terms of driveability compared to pure-electric systems, Feng said. PHEVs require plugging in daily to fully utilise the EV element. Range-extender hybrids, on the other hand, increase the electric useability but they can become sluggish when the battery is depleted and the small IC engine is called on to power the electric motor. Lotus will overcome the sluggishness by ensuring the ICE can charge the battery at a much faster rate than in regular range-exender hybrids, ensuring the car won’t have to rely on ICE power alone, Feng promised.

Lotus is currently in process to introduce its latest line-up of cars and SUVs globally. In India, Lotus currently only sells the Eletre SUV.