Lotus unveils Evija electric hypercar

Cleveland, Ohio – Talk to electric vehicle (EV) supporters, and many will use the economics argument. Sure, EVs cost more to purchase, but electricity is cheaper than gasoline, so after a few years, you’ve saved enough to justify the purchase.

So clearly, it’s time to put a $310,000 deposit down to reserve the $2.1 million (starting price) Lotus Evija, what the sportscar company says will be the first British electric hypercar when in launches next year. With the average American spending about less than $2,500 on gas each year, the Evija breaks even in less than 900 years.

To ensure exclusivity, Lotus is making no more than 130 Evija (pronounced E-vee-ya) models.

To be fair, the Evija could be considered a bargain next to gasoline-powered hypercars such as Bugatti’s $3 million Chiron or Koenigsegg’s $2.8 million Jesko.

The Evija is Lotus’ first release since its 2017 purchase by Chinese automaker Geely (which also owns Volvo cars), a company in the process of launching 10 EVs by 2025.

Lotus Cars CEO Phil Popham said, “The Lotus Evija is a car like no other. It will re-establish our brand in the hearts and minds of sports car fans and on the global automotive stage. It will also pave the way for further visionary models… The Evija is a true Lotus in every sense – it has been developed with an unwavering passion to push boundaries, to explore new ways of thinking, and to apply ground-breaking technologies.”

The Evija is the first Lotus road car to feature a one-piece carbon fiber monocoque chassis.

An ultra-advanced all-electric powertrain, developed by Formula 1 engineering company Williams Advanced Engineering, mounts the battery pack in the middle of the car, immediately behind the two seats. The batteries feed four e-motors. Lotus engineers are targeting a 3,700 lb vehicle weight, a difficult challenge given EV battery weight. Engineers say the car will be capable of about 2,000hp.

The vehicle’s 70kWh battery gives the car about a 250-mile range. Top speed will be more than 200mph.

About the author: Robert Schoenberger is the editor of Today's Motor Vehicles and a contributor to Today's Medical Developments and Aerospace Manufacturing and Design. He has written about the automotive industry for more than 19 years at The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio; The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Kentucky; and The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Mississippi.

rschoenberger@gie.net