Lotus cancels plans to go fully electric by 2028

With the relatively large, heavy, and purely electric new releases Eletre (SUV) and Emeya (saloon), Lotus recently made a clear break with its past, in which uncompromising lightweight sports cars set the tone. Back in 2021, it was confirmed that the Emira sports car would be the last combustion-powered car from the traditional British company, which is now managed by the Chinese company Geely. 

Now, as with so many other car manufacturers, Lotus is going backwards with its strategy. The plan to have an all-electric portfolio by 2028 has been cancelled. Instead, the company wants to focus on hybrid solutions for future models. 

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The change of heart is certainly due to the fact that buyers of luxury vehicles are still reluctant to buy electric cars, even in popular markets such as China. Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng told reporters at the Guangzou Motor Show that the manufacturer plans to develop a "super hybrid" technology that includes a supercharged combustion engine and very fast charging. According to Autocar, it also hopes to achieve a total range of around 680 miles.

"At Lotus, we have always chosen the best possible powertrain technology, be it pure petrol, pure electric, hybrid or range-extended [EV]," Feng told the Wall Street Journal. 

This represents a drastic change from Lotus' original direction. The company actually rejected the use of PHEVs due to the compromised driving experience, especially when the battery is empty. According to Feng, the manufacturer wants to solve the problem with a 900-volt architecture that charges the battery extremely quickly. Faster than if you were to swap them. 

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It is not yet clear which models Lotus intends to equip with its new hybrid technology. Revised versions of the Eletre and the Emeya could certainly make good use of the additional flexibility and would probably also appeal to a wider range of buyers.

Anyone hoping for a new Lotus with a more traditional approach and hybrid technology should not get their hopes up too high. Virtually everything indicates that this drive is intended to push the carmaker's large four-door models and not to keep lightweight sports cars alive. Let's take comfort in the fact that the Emira will still be on offer for a few more years.

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