British engineering company and sports car manufacturer Lotus, under the wings of the Chinese Geely Group, has launched its own DC fast-charging infrastructure in China with chargers up to 450 kW and a modular unit for charging up to four vehicles at once.

The company is committed to becoming an all-electric global luxury technology brand by 2028. It launched its first electric hyper-SUV Eletre in 2022, to start deliveries across the UK, Europe, and China this year. The new chargers presented today in China are expected to be rolled out in most European countries and the Middle East in Q2 2024.

142 km in five minutes

The ultra-fast 450 kW DC charger is liquid-cooled, and Lotus claims its Eletre R can add 142 km with a five-minute charge, making it one of the most competitive chargers on the market. To compare: at 350 kW, some 120 km additional range can be achieved or 10 to 80% charging in 20 minutes.

The carmaker believes 450 kW charging is expected to be the next step forward in fast charging when the infrastructure becomes readily available. It says its cars will be easily upgraded to this power output without additional hardware costs once charging providers start rolling out the infrastructure.

Modular power cabinet

For that market, Lotus also presented a modular power cabinet suited for charging plazas like highway rest stops that require high energy to increase efficiency and minimize charging time. Combined with a charging terminal, it can charge four cars simultaneously with power output capabilities of up to 480 kW.

In September this year, Lotus unveiled its third electric model, a sleek four-door sedan named Emeya. This so-called ‘hyper GT’ shares much of its technical side with the Eletre SUV and is set to compete with the Porsche Taycan and the upcoming Polestar 5.

Emeya ‘hyper-GT’

After Evija, Emira, and Eletre comes Emeya, the fourth model of Lotus’ renaissance thanks to Geely’s investment, and the third battery-electric model of the brand. The Emeya is a four-door sports sedan that’s supposed to be exciting to drive, thanks to its supercar-like performance.

The technical side of the Emeya is familiar, as it shares its platform and drivetrains with the Eletre SUV – although Lotus has yet to confirm the exact specs and versions. The Emeya should hit 100 km/hour in under 2,8 seconds, with a top speed of 256 km/hour thanks to a 905 hp and 985 Nm dual-motor drivetrain.

The Lotus Emeya is set to enter production in 2024, but customers can already reserve an example for €1 000. Pricing and equipment levels will be confirmed closer to the launch date.