Lotus teams with Bosch for public EV charging

In 2021, the Hethel carmaker announced plans to go fully electric by the late 2020s, building on its sports car heritage to tap into the luxury EV market. The first Lotus vehicle under that strategy is the Eletre, a crossover SUV that started customer deliveries in 2023. Last year also saw the launch of the Emeya, a grand tourer expected to compete with Porsche’s highly-rated Taycan. According to Lotus, Emeya deliveries will get under way in the second half of 2024.

READ MORE ABOUT LOTUS'S ELECTRIFICATION STRATEGY IN THE UPCOMING FEBRUARY ISSUE OF THE ENGINEER

The new partnership with Bosch will see Eletre and Emeya owners gain access to Bosch’s Europe-wide public charging network, with Lotus’s Hyper-OS infotainment system highlighting charging locations and providing range-based route planning. Drivers will access the network via a Lotus Charging Card, while a smartphone app will allow them to keep track of their charging history, manage costs and monitor vehicle battery status remotely.

In addition to the deal with Bosch, Lotus has also announced a partnership with Mobilize Power Solutions, a provider of home charging stations. Priced from £1,199, the Mobilize package comes with a tethered cable as standard and can utilise domestic solar energy.

“Lack of charging infrastructure continues to remain one of the biggest barriers to electric vehicle adoption,” said Mike Johnstone, chief commercial officer at Lotus Group.

“We need to make it easier than ever before to own an electric vehicle, in order to accelerate the transition to electrification and collaboration across the industry is key to this. By tapping into Bosch and Mobilize Power Solutions, we’re able to offer our customers further confidence in owning an electric Lotus by providing them with more and effortless options, wherever they are in Europe.”

According to Lotus, a 350kW DC fast charger can add 120km of range to the Eletre and Emeya in approximately five minutes. A 350kW charger can also boost the battery from 10-80 per cent in 20 minutes for Eletre, and 18 minutes for Emeya. 

“Availability of the public charging network is a primary concern for almost half [44 per cent] of potential EV buyers and we are making significant headway to improve access across Europe,” said Olivia Arago, vice-president, eMobility Services, Bosch Electrified Motion.

“We are delighted to be working so closely with Lotus customers to encourage more widespread EV adoption in the UK and EU, ensuring that drivers can readily locate and use our chargers while on the go.”