Testing of the Lotus Evora 414E hybrid has begun at the company’s facilities in Hethel, Norfolk. Lotus claim the durability and dynamic testing is ahead of schedule.
The Evora 414E range extender hybrid electric vehicle is an engineering prototype designed to showcase Lotus Engineering’s latest developments.
It is powered by a pair of motors powering the rear wheels and a battery pack charged by a three-cylinder engine which can run on petrol, ethanol or methanol. The engine drives a generator which either charges the battery or drives the motors directly. The batteries can also be charged from a mains electricity supply.
Lotus claims the Evora 414E hybrid has a pure EV range of 30 miles and records 55g/km of CO2. Power is rated at 408bhp - or 414PS, hence its name - and 738lb ft. It is said to produce a 0-60mph time of around 4.0sec and a 130mph top speed.
Simon Corbett, principal dynamics test and development engineer said the 414E has two and half times the torque of the Evora S and described the acceleration as “indescribable, the surge of torque is like an ocean wave”.
The project has been funded by the government’s innovation agency, the Technology Strategy Board.
