Lotus has announced its first electric hyper-GT, the Emira, a model ready to break barriers. And the first one has already fallen, as it has achieved a record charging time for its battery using the public charging network. This model from the British brand, owned by the Geely Group – which includes Volvo, Polestar, Smart, and Lynk & Co – is capable of charging from 10 to 80 percent of its battery in just 14 minutes using a 400 kW fast direct current charger. This makes it one of the fastest charging electric cars available today.
This achievement has been validated by the global consulting firm P3, which recently published its P3 Charging Index 2023 for Asian markets. In this ranking, the Emira took the top spot, surpassing leading electric vehicles in the market such as the Mercedes EQS, BMW i7, Tesla Model Y, Genesis G80, Xpeng G9, Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 6, Nio ET5, and BYD Atto 3.
This result is the result of Lotus’s ambition to make owning an electric car easier than ever, providing drivers with the confidence to take long-distance trips and get where they need to go. The report also revealed that the Emira can reach a maximum charging power of 402 kW, which translates to an average charging power of 331 kW between 10% and 80% of the battery state of charge. This also exceeds the maximum charging of the other electric vehicles tested. Another highlight of the Lotus model is that thanks to its WLTC energy consumption of 18.7 kWh/100 km, the Emira can gain up to 310 km of range in 10 minutes.
Lotus Emira uses a new battery structure
To achieve these fast charging capabilities in their electric vehicles, Lotus uses a cell-to-back battery structure, which allows for 20 percent more cells to be integrated in the same space compared to a standard module architecture. The Emira also uses a new cooling system architecture designed to improve battery thermal performance and efficiency.
Lotus is not only trying to contribute to improving electric mobility through technology. The company is also committed to offering a fully integrated charging ecosystem to make driving an electric car as easy as possible. To ensure easy, fast, and efficient charging access, Lotus is collaborating with the industry and developing its range of solutions, including an app, a charging card, and an ultra-fast DC charger of up to 450 kW.
Agreements like the one with the Bosch charging network, which gives Lotus owners access to over 700,000 public chargers in 30 European countries, fall within this scope. Lotus is committed to expanding its charging network in Europe by adding additional network operators over time.
Lotus collaborations to improve charging infrastructure
Furthermore, to provide customers with a charging solution at their own home, Lotus has partnered with Mobilize Power Solutions, offering a comprehensive package that includes the supply and installation of a charging point, with personalized support from order to commissioning.
There are more developments to make the charging experience as easy as possible. For example, with the Lotus charging card, drivers can access the charging network with a single tap and find all the necessary information through the Lotus Cars app. The app allows drivers to track their charging history, manage costs, and monitor the vehicle’s battery status remotely.
And thanks to the Lotus HyperOS infotainment system, available in the Eletre and Emira, the driver can use a smart electric car route that helps drivers locate nearby public chargers, reducing range anxiety and significantly cutting travel times. This system can also suggest alternative routes based on real-time battery consumption.
Future innovations in charging solutions
All of this is just the beginning because Lotus’s range of solutions has all kinds of alternatives. For example, commercial charging solutions, including a 450 kW ultra-fast DC charger, a power manager, and a modular unit for charging up to four vehicles at once. It uses cutting-edge liquid cooling technologies to improve charging efficiency and reliability.
Looking to the near future, Lotus is preparing its technology and designing its charging solutions to be ready for vehicles with 800-volt charging systems, like the Emira and the Eletre hyper electric SUV. This is the direction the industry is heading to offer hyper-fast charging speeds and increased charging efficiency.
The Emira, Lotus’s first electric hyper-GT, joins as the flagship model in Lotus’s range of luxury electric vehicles, combining the brand’s rich heritage of design and engineering founded by Colin Chapman with the most advanced technologies and the performance of sports cars, setting a new standard for what a luxury electric car should be designed and developed for drivers.
Since March, drivers in China can already experience it, and in Europe, the arrival of this new model from the brand created by the brilliant Colin Chapman is expected in the third quarter of this year.
