Lotus has announced that its latest electric vehicle, the Emeya, has achieved one of the fastest charging times for an EV. Using a DC fast charger, the car could charge its batteries from 10 to 80% in just 14 minutes when connected to a 400kW charging outlet. Tests found it could draw a peak of 402kW and an average of 331kW throughout the charging process.
To enable these improved charging speeds, Lotus has used a cell-to-pack battery structure, allowing 20% more cells to be stored without increasing the vehicle’s size. Qingfeng Feng, CEO of Lotus Group, said, “With our industry-leading charging technology available today, Emeya pushes the boundaries for how an EV performs, providing drivers with the confidence to travel anywhere.
Lotus is also enhancing the EV ownership experience by collaborating across the industry and developing its own app, charging card, and fast charger capable of delivering 450kW of peak power. The Lotus charging card will allow customers to access the charging network and enable users to keep track of their charging history, manage costs, and monitor vehicle battery status remotely.
Emeya sets new charging benchmark
The Emeya’s charging rate of 331 kilowatts over the 10%-to-80% SoC period is unmatched. This rate surpasses the previously lauded Porsche Taycan’s charging prowess, which peaked at 325 kW.
The Emeya’s peak charging ability of 402 kW is 22% better than the second-generation Taycan and 50% faster than the first-gen Taycan that won a charging competition two years ago. Not only is the Emeya fast, but it also boasts a massive 102-kilowatt-hour battery that can recharge 310 kilometers (193 miles) of range in just 10 minutes and 458 kilometers (285 miles) in 20 minutes. This performance beats its nearest competitors, including Tesla’s Model Y, which can only manage 166 kilometers (103 miles) after 10 minutes of Supercharging and 293 kilometers (182 miles) after 20 minutes.
The Emeya will soon be arriving in the UK and Europe in the third quarter of this year and will be the first electric GT car to join the Lotus lineup. Lotus’ achievement with the Emeya marks a milestone in EV technology, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in electric vehicle charging speed and efficiency.
Cameron is a highly regarded contributor in the rapidly evolving fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. His articles delve into the theoretical underpinnings of AI, the practical applications of machine learning across industries, ethical considerations of autonomous systems, and the societal impacts of these disruptive technologies.
