Lotus has revealed a range of new ultra-fast electric vehicle (EV) chargers, including one that’s capable of providing up to 142km of range in just five minutes.
The brand has already deployed its range of ultra-fast chargers in China and plans to expand into Europe and the Middle East during the second quarter of 2024. Further expansion plans will be announced in “due course”.
Lotus’ new liquid-cooled all-in-one DC charger is capable of providing charge rates up to 450kW.
The recently detailed Eletre R electric SUV, for example, which has a maximum charge rate 350kW, is able to add up to 142km of range in around five minutes of charging at this 450kW charger.
Lotus also has a modular liquid-cooled power cabinet that it’s aiming to use at locations like highway rest stops which require high energy to quickly charge vehicles. It’s capable of providing a power output of 480kW.
There’s also a liquid-cooled charging unit that can be used with the liquid-cooled power cabinet and charge up to four vehicles at a time. It has a maximum current output of 600A, which “ensures it is able to meet the needs of all electric vehicle drivers”.
Lotus claims it has “futureproofed its charging offering” by providing an ultra-fast 450kW solution. It doesn’t currently offer any vehicle that’s able to charge at this rate.
The company says however customers will be able to “easily upgrade” their vehicles to charge at 450kW with a software update once service providers roll out grid upgrades.
Lotus isn’t the only carmaker to have introduced ultra-fast chargers as rival Chinese carmaker and technology company Nio has revealed a ultra-fast charging station with 500kW maximum power at 650A current.
In 2018, Lotus announced its plans to transform into an all-electric luxury brand by 2028. In 2022, the brand announced its first electric SUV, the Eletre.
Customer deliveries within the UK, Europe and China for the SUV are expected to begin by the end of 2023 before coming to Australia in the second quarter of 2024.
It also recently revealed its electric hyper GT, the Emeya, in September 2023. It’s expected to go into production in 2024 and will arrive in Australia sometime during 2025.
