Chinese-owned British carmaker Lotus has scrapped its plans to only produce electric vehicles (EVs) by 2028, as it responds to changing market conditions. Speaking to media including UK magazine Autocar at the Guangzhou motor show, Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng said the brand would instead develop range-extender EVs (EREVs) which use a petrol engine to help charge the battery that powers the electric motors. “At Lotus, we have always chosen the best power technology available, whether it’s pure gasoline, pure electric, hybrid or range-extended [EV],” said Mr Feng.
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Mr Feng said that it didn’t want to go down the path of developing plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drivetrains due to perceived driveability compromises, while they also need to be externally charged to fully utilise their EV-only driving capabilities. EREVs on the other hand drive like an EV all the time, and the petrol motor is only used to provide charge to the battery when it’s depleted, with no physical connection between it and the wheels. According to Mr Feng, Lotus will aim for the petrol engines of its EREVs – or Super Hybrids, as they’ll be marketed – to charge the onboard battery faster than other vehicles with a similar drivetrain.
It’s unclear what engine the EREV will use. Lotus’ parent Geely recently formed a new engine .