Electric Cars: The Basics
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The All-Electric Lotus Eletre SUV
Lotus Cars Limited, is a UK based automotive manufacturer, famed for its iconic sports cars and participation in Formula One. The automotive manufacturer has witnessed a number of changes to its ownership since the founding of Lotus Engineering Limited in 1952, by Colin Chapman and Colin Dare.
The company is currently owned by the Chinese automotive manufacturer, Geely, headquartered in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. Geely also owns the automotive brands Volvo Cars and Polestar. Previously, Lotus was owned by General Motors.
Lotus is not new to electric cars. The company has already introduced the Lotus Evija, the all-electric hypercar. The Lotus Eletre Hyper-SUV is the second battery-electric vehicle (BEV) from the manufacturer and its most advanced Lotus vehicle to date. The company has the following electric vehicles (EVs):
- The all-electric Lotus Evija
- The all-electric Lotus Eletre Hyper-SUV
- All-electric Lotus Emeya Hyper-GT
The pure electric Lotus Eletre hyper-SUV is a defining point in the history of the automotive manufacturer. It is, its first ever SUV, its first vehicle with four-doors, its first mass-market electric car, its first all-electric SUV and the Eletre R variant is the world’s fastest dual-motor electric SUV.
The Lotus EV was revealed in March 2022. The name is derived from the Hungarian word ‘eletre’, which means ‘coming to life’. The electric car is designed in the UK but will be manufactured in China. The electric SUV is part of the Vision80 strategy of the automotive manufacturer, to broaden the appeal and accessibility of Lotus performance cars, to a wider lifestyle customer base.
According to the Managing Director of Lotus Cars, “The launch of the Eletre is the natural next step for Lotus. Two-seater sports cars are not for everyone, and we want to offer a Lotus for every stage of your life. The Eletre is the start of that.”
The Eletre is now available to order in some international markets, with deliveries expected to commence in first-half 2023. The Lotus EV is not available in Ireland. The company claims that, ‘thousands of customers around the world have placed deposits to secure their Eletre’. The all-electric Eletre competes in an already fierce segment of pure electric premium SUVs. However, the Lotus Eletre has carved a niche position for those seeking hyper performance pure electric SUVs.
The Lotus Eletre is available in one EV battery size: 112 kWh and in three variants: for the entry-level Eletre and the Eletre S, the manufacturer claims a zero-emission electric range up to 600 km (WLTP) and for the top of the range, Eletre R, the claimed e-range is 490 km (WLTP).
Even adjusting for real-world driving i.e. weather, temperature, road conditions, driving profile, load, speed, tyre size etc, the Lotus Eletre offers an impressive pure electric range for short and long distance driving. For the Eletre and the Eletre S, expect a real-world range closer to 475 km and for the higher performance Eletre R, a 400 km EV range is more realistic.
For longer motorway driving trips, the Lotus Eletre electric SUV offers DC charging capability up to 350 kW DC. The EV can be charged 10%-80% in 20 minutes i.e. it can add 250 zero-emission miles in 20 minutes. The Eletre EV also offers a 3-phase 22 kW AC onboard charger as standard, which is certainly good.
However, given that the majority of homes in Ireland have single-phase power supply, taking advantage of the 22 kW onboard charger will be only for those with access to three-phase EV charging at home, work or at a public destination. Single-phase EV charging will take longer. We at e-zoomed recommend charging overnight at home, when the electricity tariff rates are cheaper.
The Eletre electric SUV is available as an all-wheel drive (AWD), as standard. The Eletre and the Eletre S variants can achieve 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds (max power: 603 hp/ 710 Nm torque). The top speed is 250 km/h. The Eletre R, can achieve 0-100 km/h in a whopping 2.95 seconds (max power: 905 hp/ 985 Nm torque). The top speed is 260 km/h. The exterior sporty styling of the e-SUV certainly echoes the performance capability of the EV!
The EV has a host of technology and features on offer, some include: heads-up-display, 15.1” HD OLED centre screen, adaptive cruise control, driver monitoring system, rear collision warning, traffic sign recognition, front and rear cross traffic alert, lane keep assist, blind spot detection, park assist front and rear, visual park assist and more.
The EV is also equipped for full autonomous driving, and includes, a LIDAR system that scans 200 m in every direction. In terms of practicality, the high performance electric SUV has much to offer. It includes a frunk (46 L) and a boot space up to 688 L. The frunk, or front storage compartment is perfect for storing the EV cable.
Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet!
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Good electric range | Expensive |
| High performance pure electric SUV | Available in only one EV battery option |
| 350 kW DC charging and 22 kW onboard charger as standard | Only available in two exterior colours |
Gallery
The All-Electric Lotus Eletre SUV (credit: Lotus)
| At A Glance | |
|---|---|
| EV Type: | Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV) |
| Body Type: | SUV |
| Engine: | Electric |
| Available In Ireland: | No |
| Variants (3 Options) |
|---|
| Lotus Eletre (from €N/A) |
| Lotus Eletre S (from €N/A) |
| Lotus Eletre R (from €N/A) |
| EV Battery & Emissions | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Type: | Lithium-ion |
| EV Battery Capacity: | Available in one battery size: 112 kWh |
| Charging: | 350 kW DC Rapid Charging (10%-80%: 20 mins). Onboard charger: 22kW AC (0%-100%: N/A hrs) |
| Charge Port: | Type 2 |
| EV Cable Type: | Type 2 |
| Tailpipe Emissions: | 0g (CO2/km) |
| Battery Warranty: | N/A |
| Average Cost Of Residential Charging | |
|---|---|
| Battery net capacity: 16.7 kWh | € 4.00 |
| Battery net capacity: 30.0 kWh | € 7.19 |
| Battery net capacity: 39.2 kWh | € 9.39 |
| Battery net capacity: 45.0 kWh | € 10.78 |
| Battery net capacity: 50.0 kWh | € 11.98 |
| Battery net capacity: 64.0 kWh | € 15.34 |
| Battery net capacity: 71.0 kWh | € 17.01 |
| Battery net capacity: 77.0 kWh | € 18.45 |
| Battery net capacity: 90.0 kWh | € 21.57 |
| Battery net capacity: 100.0 kWh | € 23.97 |
- Note 1: The average cost of residential electricity in Ireland varies depending on the region, supplier and type of energy used. An average for Ireland is 23.97 cents/kWh.
- Note 2: Not all EV manufactures make available the data on net EV battery capacity, and in a number of instances the EV battery capacity advertised, does not state if it is gross or net capacity. In general, usable EV battery capacity is between 85% to 95% of the gross available capacity.
| Charging Times (Overview) | |
|---|---|
| Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW): | 6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC) |
| Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW): | 3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Rapid charging AC (43 kW): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Rapid charging DC (50 kW+): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Ultra rapid charging DC (150 kW+): | 0-80% : 20 mins to 40 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Tesla Supercharger (120 kW – 250 kW): | 0-80%: up to 25 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
- Note 1: SoC: state of charge
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Height (mm): | 1630 |
| Width (mm): | 2231 |
| Length (mm): | 5103 |
| Wheelbase (mm): | 3019 |
| Turning Circle (m): | N/A |
| Boot Space (L): | 611 – 688 |
| Lotus Eletre | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 112 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 600 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/ 100km): | 21.5 |
| Charging: | 350 kW DC Rapid Charging (10%-80%: 20 mins). Onboard charger: 22kW AC (0%-100%: N/A hrs) |
| Top Speed: | 250 km/h |
| 0-100 km/h: | 4.5 seconds |
| Drive: | All-wheel drive (AWD) |
| Electric Motor (kW): | 450 |
| Horsepower (hp): | 603 |
| Torque (Nm): | 710 |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 4 |
| Doors: | 5 |
| Unladen Weight (kg): | N/A |
| Colours: | 2 |
| NCAP Safety Rating: | N/A |
| Lotus Eletre R | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 112 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 490 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/ 100km): | 21.5 |
| Charging: | 350 kW DC Rapid Charging (10%-80%: 20 mins). Onboard charger: 22kW AC (0%-100%: N/A hrs) |
| Top Speed: | 260 km/h |
| 0-100 km/h: | 2.95 seconds |
| Drive: | All-wheel drive (AWD) |
| Electric Motor (kW): | 675 |
| Horsepower (hp): | 905 |
| Torque (Nm): | 985 |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 4 |
| Doors: | 5 |
| Unladen Weight (kg): | N/A |
| Colours: | 2 |
| NCAP Safety Rating: | N/A |
The Pros For Electric Cars
| Pros: Electric Vehicles (EVs) | |
| Lower air pollution: | One can never overestimate the negative impact of air pollution on the health of individuals, in particular, the vulnerable i.e. the children and the elderly. In Ireland, we have witnessed a significant increase in air pollution over the past decade, and yes, petrol and diesel tailpipe emissions have contributed to the worsening air quality across all our villages, towns and cities. Road transportation, though not the only source of pollutants, is a leading source, contributing up to 30%. Electric vehicles help reduce tailpipe emissions i.e. leading to improved air quality. Pure electric cars have no tailpipe, hence the expression ‘zero-tailpipe emissions’ or ‘zero-emissions’. PHEVs do have tailpipe emissions, given the hybrid nature of the vehicle (ICE and electric), but have far lower emissions than a conventional petrol or diesel car. Moreover, when a PHEV is driven on electric mode, the tailpipe emissions are zero! So bottom-line, both BEVs and PHEVs help improve air quality! |
| Lower running costs: | It is a misconception that electric cars are more expensive than petrol and diesel cars. In fact, when electric cars costs are assessed on a life cycle basis, it is clear that EVs are cheaper to drive per km than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. For a start, charging an EV battery can cost as little as 5 €, and in most cases less than 10 €. However, refuelling a tank of fuel can cost up to 120 € (if not more!). An EV costs between 5 and 10 cents per km to drive, significantly lower compared to the cost of driving a petrol or diesel car. |
| Lower maintenance costs: | This is applicable only for BEVs. Pure electric cars have far fewer moving parts compared to an internal combustion engine (ICE) and therefore there is less that can go wrong i.e. lower maintenance costs. |
| Lower risk of breakdown: | Given the fewer moving parts in an electric car, it is not surprising that EVs have a lower probability for a breakdown compared to petrol or diesel vehicles. Most EV drivers have become astute at ‘topping up’ the EV battery on a regular basis to avoid the risk of being stranded due to an empty EV battery, one of the reasons for seeking breakdown assistance. |
| Convenience of charging at home: | Convenience: an EV can be charged at the convenience of your own home or office (no need to visit a petrol station!). In fact, most EVs are charged overnight at home, when the energy prices are the cheapest! |
| Lower energy price volatility: | EV charging costs have a lower price volatility and lower risk of price inflation, compared to petrol prices (petrol prices continue to negatively impact household finances as fuel prices increase). |
| Solar panels can significantly reduce charging costs: | Residential solar panels can be used to lower the cost of charging. Using residential PV solar, the cost of generating and consuming electricity is nominal, if not free (apart from the upfront costs). Both residential and commercial solar installations (for business premises) are ways to hedge against energy price inflation and achieve ‘well-to-wheel’ zero-tailpipe emissions. |
| Lower noise pollution: | In general, electric cars are silent with an in-built artificial noise generator primarily for pedestrian safety. The lower noise from EVs help improve the quality of our living environment, in particular, those living close to busy roads and thoroughfares. |
| Instant torque: | Yes, electric vehicles (EVs) have better torque performance than internal combustion engines, hence the ‘torqueof the town’! If in doubt, look at a traffic light that has both these types of cars. As the signal changes to green, the electric car will quickly leave behind the diesel and petrol cars. The primary reason for the superior acceleration in electric cars, is that, electric vehicles deliver ‘peak or maximum torque’ instantaneously, producing immediate acceleration. However, petrol and diesel cars take time to reach maximum or peak torque. In particular, diesel cars are known for being sluggish. Bottom-line, the better torque performance of electric cars, further contributes to the ‘fun factor’ in driving EVs compared to conventional cars. |
| Better for the environment: | Yes, apart from air pollution, in general, electric vehicles are better for the environment, given the lack of dependence on polluting fossil fuels. |
The Cons For Electric Cars
| Cons: Electric Vehicles (EVs) | |
| Retail prices expensive: | It is true, in that, EVs are still expensive in regards to the retail price, compared to an equivalent petrol/ diesel car. However, the past few years has witnessed a reduction in the prices for EVs, along with the emergence of many affordable EV models. Moreover, aspiring owners of EVs have been able to take advantage of public grants. In our view, as the EV sector continues to mature with increased manufacturing volumes, consumer will gain from the inevitable price reduction as a result of the increased economies of scale. Moreover, the best way to acquire a car, is usually through a competitive financing plan like a lease, contract hire etc, making the acquisition of an EV affordable for many. |
| Limited DC charging infrastructure: | Though 80% of EV charging is done overnight at home, public EV charging infrastructure remains a focal point for debates and aspiring/ current owners of EVs. In Ireland the public EV charging network is growing (2,000 charging points, mostly in urban areas). However, we agree that rapid DC charging infrastructure still needs to be deployed more widespread, helping EV drivers achieve a 0% – 80% EV battery charge in under 30 minutes. |
| Limited choice of EVs: | There is no doubt that there has been a significant increase in the number of electric vehicles (EVs) that have been introduced over the past three years. However, the number of available pure electric cars are still limited in comparison to petrol and diesel vehicles. As global automotive manufacturers ramp-up the development and production of EVs, we expect the ‘consumer choice’ to widen significantly. |
| Limited availability of used EVs: | Given the relatively nascent nature of the EV sector, it is not surprising that the used electric car market is still very small. We do expect the used EV marketplace to improve significantly in the coming years, giving aspiring EV owners a vast choice at competitive prices. |
While e-zoomed uses reasonable efforts to provide accurate and up-to-date information, some of the information provided is gathered from third parties and has not been independently verified by e-zoomed. While the information from the third party sources is believed to be reliable, no warranty, express or implied, is made by e-zoomed regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. This disclaimer applies to both isolated and aggregate uses of this information.
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