 |
Lotus will unveil an environmentally-friendly version
of its sporty roadster - called the Eco Elise
- at the British Motor Show that opens its doors on
July 22.
Unlike most eco-friendly propositions of our time,
the Eco Elise doesn’t revolve solely around tailpipe
CO2 emissions.
|
Instead, the company tried a holistic approach to ecology
by using sustainable materials, cleaner manufacturing processes,
renewable energy generation and, of course, by reducing the
car’s weight.
To begin with, the Eco Elise uses a host of sustainable
materials to make up the body and trim - including hemp, 'eco
wool', sisal and a new high-tech, water-based paint that can
be applied by hand - while still maintaining the grade-A finish
you'd expect.
|
All of these elements reduce the Eco Elise's
footprint throughout its lifecycle, limits the amount
of energy used during production and, simultaneously,
slashes 70 pounds from the standard Elise's kerb
weight.
However, Lotus hasn't stopped there. It's fitted a set
of flexible solar panels on the hard top to help power
the electrical systems, reducing the drain on the engine
and improving efficiency.
In addition, there's a new green gear-shift light on
the instrument panel that assists drivers in maximising
fuel efficiency.
|
|
CEO Mike Kimberley commented - "The Lotus brand values of
lightweight, fuel efficient and high performance are more
relevant today than they ever have been."
It was recently announced that researchers at Lotus are attempting
to develop a car that runs on CO2 (Click
Here).
|
