Lotus and Britishvolt collaborate on EV technology
Lotus and battery cell expert Britishvolt have signed an MoU to collaborate on the research and development of advanced new EV technology.
The partnership will focus on the co-development of an innovative new battery cell package to power the next generation of electric sports cars from Lotus. The package is set to feature in a new sports car, powered by Britishvolt cells and using advanced electric propulsion technologies developed by Lotus.
Development work on the project will benefit from the proximity of Lotus and Britishvolt’s R&D centres in the West Midlands, billed as the UK’s ‘golden triangle’ of battery excellence. The Lotus Advanced Technology Centre (LATC) opened in Wellesbourne in 2020 as the global headquarters of Lotus Engineering, the consultancy division of the business.
The move follows a £100m investment by Lotus in its UK facilities, which includes manufacturing centres at Hethel for the Evija pure electric hypercar and Emira sports car.
Britishvolt is on target to responsibly manufacture some of the world’s most sustainable, low carbon battery cells at a gigafactory on the site of the former Blyth Power Station coal stocking yard located in Cambois, Northumberland.
Advanced works started on the site on September 6, 2021, following a unanimous planning decision approval earlier in the year. The project will be built in phases, to keep up with technology advancements, and will have a total capacity of over 30GWh by the end of the decade onwards.
Says Matt Windle, Managing Director, Lotus Cars:
“Lotus is delighted to be collaborating with Britishvolt to develop new battery cell technology to showcase the thrilling performance that a Lotus EV sports car can deliver. These are the first exciting steps on the journey towards an all-new electric sports car from Lotus, and yet another step towards the transformation towards sustainable, renewable electricity stored in batteries.”
“Last year we committed Lotus to a pure electric future, and in the first month of this year we announce another significant step on that journey. In the coming months we will be unveiling the Type 132, an all-new and all-electric Lotus SUV and we’ve confirmed three more EVs are on the way.”
