The Lotus Position: All-electric models

PUSHING an EV agenda as hard as some of its customers drive their cars, Lotus this week committed to a “charter” to become the first established sportscar maker to go fully electric. 

Called ‘Driving Change’, the environmental, social and governance (ESG) charter makes four core commitments for the brand to fulfil and “pave the way for (its) future as a responsible global business.”

The charter states that all new mainstream Lotus models will be fully electric from 2023 and that the Hethel-based sportscar maker will be certified as a net-zero business through a commitment to become a SBTi (Science-Based Target initiative) organisation. 

Furthermore, the global community of Lotus colleagues will be at heart of sustainable growth, ensuring all those inside the business are ‘called to action’ on ESG priorities; Lotus is also fully committed to inspiring the next generation through education and global communities’ outreach.

The charter is a key part of a strategy that is guiding the transformation of Lotus, from a UK sports car company to a global performance-car business and brand ahead of its 80th anniversary in 2028.

A strong ESG proposition is seen to promote business efficiency, employee engagement and productivity, investment and asset optimisation. It will also ensure that Lotus remains “aligned to its external regulatory commitments, driving innovation and competitiveness across… the business.”

 “Our new ESG charter formalises many activities that we have been carrying out for a number of years. Lotus as a business has always been agile, efficient and impactful within the automotive industry,” said Lotus Cars’ managing director, Matt Windle.

“Now, more than ever, as we transform rapidly to become a global pioneer of electric performance vehicles, we recognise our responsibility to do so in ways that lead our industry in minimising its impact on the environment, benefitting society and the planet as a whole,” Mr Windle added.

 “It’s brilliant to see Lotus, a truly iconic UK car brand, leading the transition to cleaner transport by joining the Zero Emission Vehicle Declaration,” said the UK government minister for investment, Lord Grimstone“I look forward to seeing Lotus continue to innovate and combine electrification with high performance".

The move to make all new mainstream Lotus models fully electric began with the Lotus Evija, which was launched in 2019 as the first British electric hyper car. Customer deliveries begin later this year.

The latest of Lotus’ new-generation cars is the Eletre hyper-SUV, which launched earlier this year. It will be joined by three more EVs in the next four years – a sports sedan (the Type 133, due in 2023), a second SUV (Type 134, in 2025) and a lightweight next-generation sportscar (Type 135, in 2026).

Lotus will become a net zero company through a commitment to become a science-based target initiative (SBTi) organisation. Using an SBTi provides guidance and methods to companies to set science-based targets in line with the latest climate science.

The ultimate goal for Lotus is for certification as a net-zero company. 

The Driving Change commitment includes significant reduction in carbon emissions throughout the business; substantial elimination of waste; driving efficient and sustainable use of resources in both operations and supply chains; and protecting and preserving natural environments.

Much of this work is already in progress. GoAuto previously reported that Lotus is a signatory of the COP26 zero emissions vehicle declaration, uses a Rego (renewable energy guarantees of origin) energy tariff to power all UK sites, has installed sensors to monitor and analyse energy consumption, plus the company is developing a solar array to provide up to 30 per cent of its energy requirement. In addition, all human waste from the site is recycled and used to support local agriculture…