The big question now is when will Lotus bring an electric vehicle, EV to the market?
The gist, ever wonder why Lotus has been used as a starting point for the Tesla Roadster and now the Dodge EV? It makes perfect sense. Lotus builds small, light and power cars, making them easy platforms for performance. They are a natural for either an EV conversion or the base for a new one, as the above mentioned EV makers.
Tesla or Dodge? Short of the financial difference between both, they share the same platform, albeit modified in the case of Tesla, Dodge’s EV seems to be a re-badged and converted version of the Lotus Europa S (the bigger version of the Elise). Nonetheless, there are differences. If the Tesla Roadster uses a 184 kilowatt electric engine which puts out 200 pound feet of torque with 248 hp, the Dodge EV also uses the same battery technology but has a 200 kilowatt electric motor that produces 268 hp with an improved 480 pound-feet of torque. A substantial weight increase for the Dodge makes it slower than the Tesla but might make it the only real competition to the Roadster, especially considering the financial aspect.
Electric Lotus? The question still remains, will Lotus come up with a electrc Elise? It is apprently a winning platform but maybe Lotus has signed a non-competing agreement with other manufactures. Who knows?
Come to think of it, this Dodge EV will up the ante more than suspected. Post source, CNET.