Lotus has unveiled its first extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) based on the Eletre SUV. The Lotus For Me, as it’s called in China, features a dual-motor electric drivetrain aided by a gasoline engine for additional driving range. But apart from that, the electric performance is perhaps even more interesting…
Lotus was set to become an electric-only brand by 2028, but the slowing EV market forced the Chinese-owned British brand to reconsider its position. To compromise, Lotus announced it would introduce EREVs. The powertrain is still mostly electric, but with an added combustion engine to soothe any range anxiety.
For Me = Eletre PHEV
The first EREV model from Lotus is the For Me, which is based on the Eletre SUV, the first mass-production Lotus EV. In terms of design, nothing has changed: the Eletre’s body shape and interior remain identical. The Lotus For Me only differs on the technical side.
Under the hood, there’s a new 2-liter gasoline engine that primarily serves as a generator. Coupled with the dual electric motors, the total system power peaks at 952 hp. That allows the 2.6-tonne SUV to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just 3.3 seconds. That’s 0.35 seconds slower than the Eletre 900, which makes 918 hp.
6C 900V battery
Interestingly, Lotus has opted for a next-gen battery for its For Me. It’s a 70 kWh pack operating at 900V, providing the large SUV with up to 420 km of electric range (CLTC). But the main benefit of the high-voltage battery pack is 6C charging, which brings it from 30 to 80% state of charge (SoC) in just 8 minutes.
This 6C battery isn’t new. It is also used by the Zeekr 9X, another premium SUV from the Geely group. However, it appears the tri-motor powertrain from the Zeekr 9X Hyper will not be available for the Lotus Eletre/For Me, at least not yet.
In Europe by the end of 2026?
Pricing and availability of the Lotus Eletre PHEV/For Me are not yet known. The model will launch first in China and should also reach Europe by the second half of 2026. By then, we expect to learn more about the WLTP range and total range figures, including with a full tank of gas.
