Save with a Green Car Scheme: Drive the Lotus Eletre Today
Lotus was founded by Colin and Hazel Chapman in the late 1940s in London. They believed in the power of simplicity, “subtracting the redundant and investing in the essential.” Lotus, a sports and racing car brand, was acquired by the Chinese multinational Geely. The $880 million capital infusion from this deal was expected to fund Geely’s ambitious plan to fully electrify the Lotus brand by 2027 and expand its business globally from the super-luxury price segment.
Lotus currently offers four models: Emeya, Eletre, Emira, and Evija. The Eletre is their only electric car at present. However, as outlined in their ESG commitments, Lotus pledges that all future mainstream vehicles will be fully electric. The Eletre marks the beginning of this tradition, establishing the brand as the world’s first established sports car maker to go fully electric. In the next four years, we can expect the Type 133 (launched in 2023, due on roads in 2024), another SUV called the Type 134 (2025), and a “lightweight next-generation sports car,” the Type 135 (2026).
You can lease a Lotus Eletre through a government car scheme, such as The Electric Car Scheme, allowing you to save 30-60% off the cost of the car through salary sacrifice. The government’s tax incentives for electric cars promote sustainable choices, but they are complex and difficult to access. The Electric Car Scheme simplifies accessing these tax incentives for the UK’s net-zero transition. Salary sacrifice works by reducing your salary in exchange for an electric car as an employee benefit. This means you save on national insurance contributions and income tax before they are deducted from your pre-tax salary, making the switch to an electric car more affordable for everyone.
Let’s take a look at the Lotus Eletre in more detail and see what other Lotus’ are due to arrive in the UK in the upcoming months.
The all-electric Lotus Eletre
As mentioned earlier, the Eletre is Lotus’s first all-electric SUV and the heaviest and largest car Lotus has ever made, weighing 2.5 tonnes. There are three trim levels and two power outputs available. The entry-level model starts at £89,500, while the high-end Eletre R starts at £120,000, according to the Lotus website.
Eletre trim levels
The three trim levels available are the Eletre, Eletre S, and Eletre R. As shown below, the entry-level Eletre and the S share the same performance specifications. However, the Eletre R boasts a larger powertrain at 675kW and can achieve 0-60mph in just 2.8 seconds. Efficiency and range are not particularly impressive, especially in the R model, which offers a travel range of only 280 miles (likely less in real-world conditions). The primary distinction between the lower models and the R is the upgraded rear motor in the R variant.
| Model | Powertrain | Battery Size | 0-60mph | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eletre | 450kW | 111.9kWh | 4.3 seconds | 322 miles |
| Eletre S | 450kW | 111.9kWh | 4.5 seconds | 332 miles |
| Eletre R | 675kW | 111.9kWh | 2.8 seconds | 280 miles |
As previously mentioned, there is little difference in powertrain and performance when comparing the Eletre and Eletre S. Here’s what you need to know about the different trim levels available:
Eletre
The base level Eletre comes with several features as standard:
20-inch five-spoke Areo wheels,
24 Matric LED headlamps,
Puddle lights and sensors,
Illuminated door handles,
Keyless entry, exit and automatic start,
Hands-free tailgate,
22kW on-board charger,
12-way power-adjustable front seats with integrated headrests,
Automatic four-zone climate control,
15.1-inch HD OLED infotainment screen,
12.6-inch digital driver display and 12.6-inch digital passenger display,
15-speaker KEF sound system,
Four type-C USB ports,
Wireless phone charger with near-field connection,
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Support,
Electrically adjustable air vents,
Heated steering wheel, front seats and power fold memory door mirrors,
Eight-way power-adjustable front seats with four-way lumbar support,
Lotus Pilot Pack.
Lotus Eletre S
The Lotus Eletre S offers a plethora of features as well as those that come as standard. There are six unique interiors to choose from which all have premium materials. The additional features include:
22-inch 10-spoke diamond turned wheels,
Lightweight brake discs,
Heated wiper nozzles,
Soft door close feature,
Rear privacy glass,
Auto-dimming rearview mirror,
Roof rails,
64-colour premium ambient lighting,
23-speaker KEF premium sound system with 3D surround sound.
Eletre R
The Eletre R comes standard with 'Track Mode', featuring a lowered ride height and performance-oriented settings such as an open grille and launch control. Further customization options include the Lotus Dynamic Handling pack, which includes rear-wheel steering and intelligent anti-roll control. Alternatively, you can opt for the carbon fibre pack, adding carbon fibre accents to the lower front spoiler lip, front bumper decoration panels, side mirror covers, hood decoration panels, lower rear diffuser, rear bumper decoration panels, wheel arch extensions, and door decoration panels.
What’s the Lotus Eletre like to drive?
There are several notable features in the Eletre, with one standout being its streamlined design and functionality. Starting with its core technical specifications, the vehicle utilizes a substantial 112kWh (107kWh usable) battery, arranged directly within the structural casing rather than in separate modules. This configuration allows for higher energy density in a physically smaller battery footprint, without compromising power.
The battery is equipped with both cooling and heating systems and supports rapid charging capabilities up to 350kW, made possible by its 800-volt architecture (as opposed to the more common 400-volt systems). The base Eletre and Eletre S models offer a commendable 322 miles of WLTP range, though the heavier and faster Eletre R variant provides less range due to its performance-focused features. Additionally, the Eletre R incorporates a two-speed gearbox on the rear axle, contributing to its impressive acceleration times of less than three seconds from 0-62mph, typical of electric vehicles.
Overall, it’s an interesting and exciting car to drive, due to the speed alone!
What’s the Eletre like inside?
The Eletre's interior showcases impressive build quality in its pre-production model, marking a significant upgrade from previous Lotus models. It offers extensive seat and steering wheel adjustments, accommodating both sporty, low-slung positions and elevated, clear-view preferences. Luxury and spaciousness define the cabin, available in four or five-seat layouts with ample storage options, including a generous 688-litre boot and an additional compartment under the bonnet.
The driver's perspective features a prominent 12.6-inch information display behind a hexagonal steering wheel, complemented by a large head-up display and a central 15.1-inch OLED touchscreen. Convenient small rockers for air conditioning sit beneath the touchscreen, with brake regen and driving modes managed via split paddles behind the wheel. Wireless charging and extensive storage options add to the convenience.
Passengers benefit from their own touchscreen strip, though it may be somewhat intrusive for others in the vehicle. Voice control and over-the-air updates enhance the tech-savvy experience. The interior boasts environmentally conscious materials like Re-Fibre fabrics made from recycled fashion industry waste, along with optional UltraFabric seats crafted from lightweight polyurethane and sustainable choices like carbon-neutral Alcantara and Econyl carpets made entirely from post-consumer waste. These choices not only support sustainability efforts but also contribute to the cabin's tactile and aesthetic appeal.
Overall, the Eletre's interior seamlessly combines luxury with functionality, creating a welcoming environment that prioritises comfort, modern amenities, and sustainable materials.
Lease the Lotus Eletre from an EV salary sacrifice scheme and save hundreds every month
You can lease the Lotus Eletre from £1,766 per month without using a green car scheme. However, if you opt for salary sacrifice, you can save £707 in income tax and £35 in national insurance. Additionally, there will be a small amount of Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax, also known as company car tax, which amounts to £100 for the Eletre.
Overall, with a salary sacrifice scheme like The Electric Car Scheme, your monthly payment would be £1,125. This calculation assumes you are a 40% taxpayer, plan to lease the car for three years, and expect to drive 10,000 miles annually.
Switching to an electric car is a significant decision and one of the best ways to lower your carbon footprint, but how you get into one matters. There are several ways to start driving electric with the two most popular being: leasing or buying. Both options have their positives and negatives. The main positives of leasing an electric car is that you don’t have to worry about depreciation because you’ll be leasing your car for a fixed amount of time, and you have access to the newest EV technology with leasing.
Lotus Evija
Lotus Evija is classified as a ‘hypercar’, it has four electric motors that can produce 1,972bhp which makes it the fastest Lotus ever built. According to Lotus, it can allegedly reach an 80% charge in 12 minutes. However, Lotus have said that they will only build 130 of them and according to Car and Driver, these have already been ordered by people who can afford the $2 million asking price. It can achieve 186mph in under 9 seconds and it has a claimed top speed of 200mph.
Evija’s power and performance
The highlight of the Evija is its powerful electric powertrain. It uses four electric motors that together produce 1972 horsepower and 1254 pound-feet of torque. This is almost double the horsepower of more expensive hypercars like the Aston Martin Valkyrie. A single-speed automatic transmission manages the power, sending it to all four wheels.
Designed for optimal handling, the Evija has a light curb weight of just over 3,700 pounds, making it one of the lightest EV hypercars in production. It can reach speeds of over 200 mph and accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in under three seconds. Performance can be adjusted through five driving modes: Range, City, Tour, Sport, and Track.
Driving a prototype of the Evija provided a glimpse into its potential. The prototype, though with a detuned powertrain and lacking features like active aerodynamics and torque vectoring, still delivered over 1600 horsepower and demonstrated impressive acceleration and responsive handling.
What’s the Lotus Evija like inside?
The Lotus Evija seats two passengers, and its cabin is accessed via dihedral doors, which are handle-free to maintain a sleek, sculpted look. These doors are operated using the key fob and can be closed with a switch on the overhead console once inside. The cabin design of the Evija combines retro and modern elements, with certain features inspired by Lotus's racing cars from the 1950s and '60s.
The Evija's front seats are electrically adjustable, featuring a carbon-fibre shell and thick microfiber pads. The driver can manually adjust the tilt and length of the steering column. Additionally, there are two custom storage spaces located near the occupants' hip points. Standard interior features include climate control and three-point seatbelts, with optional four-point harnesses available.
Lotus Emeya Electric
The electric Lotus Emeya was known as the Type 133 for some time before it picked up Lotus’ naming convention. It is Lotus’s second electric car and is part of a family of new lifestyle-orientated models. The Emeya has a dual-motor powertrain that can send 905bhp through all four wheels, which is equivalent to 0-62mph in 2.8 seconds. The specifications for the entry-level Emeya and Emeya S are still be to released, but it is thought they will perform similarly to the Lotus Eletre.
The Emeya will be offered in six different colours and two new finishes, which are now available as exterior options across the Lotus range: Boreal Grey and Fireglow Orange. The base-level Emeya will set you back £89,500, whereas the S will begin at £101,950 and the R at £129,950.
What’s the Emeya like inside?
Inside the car, you'll find a mix of performance-focused features and luxurious touches. For instance, there are carbon-bodied front seats and a flat-bottomed steering wheel that emphasize sportiness. At the same time, the cabin includes plush elements like individual rear seats, digital rear-view mirror screens, and high-quality materials that give a sense of luxury.
Lotus Technology, the EV division of Lotus under Chinese ownership, showcases its advanced technology with a large 55.0-inch head-up display. This display projects important information such as directions and alerts from the driver assistance systems across the entire width of the windshield. Many will be pleased to know that there are also physical control features on the centre console, steering wheel and steering column, which makes it easy to adjust things like climate when on the move. However, if you like the option of touchscreen or voice assistance, that is also available in the Emeya.
In the centre of the dashboard, there's a touchscreen which offers 5G connectivity and can receive updates over-the-air. Next to this are two smaller digital screens - one for the driver and one for the passenger. This layout is similar to what you'd find in the Eletre, which also gives both drivers and passengers a personalised digital interface.
Is the all-electric Lotus Emeya available to salary sacrifice from The Electric Car Scheme?
Unfortunately, the Emeya is not yet available to lease from The Electric Car Scheme because it arrives in the UK and Europe in August 2024 - watch this space!
Employers can offer a cost-neutral benefit that gives employees access to the most affordable way to switch to an electric car. Together we’re speeding up our ability to tackle climate change by empowering others to make sustainable choices. That’s why The Electric Car Scheme is at no cost to the employer to set up and run. As an employer, you are protected if the car needs to be returned early. And importantly, you run the scheme with no hassle, simple set-up, straightforward reporting, and 5* customer service.
Hear how Dreams implemented The Electric Car Scheme and how it helped them with employee retention whilst also hitting their ESG targets.
If you’re interested in learning more about salary sacrifice, visit our hub of information here. If you’re interested in implementing the scheme, visit our website where you will be able to calculate your savings using our quote tool or book a demo!
Last updated: 10.07.24
Our pricing is based on data collected from The Electric Car Scheme quote tool. All final pricing is inclusive of VAT. All prices above are based on the following lease terms; 10,000 miles pa, 36 months, and are inclusive of Maintenance and Breakdown Cover. The Electric Car Scheme’s terms and conditions apply. All deals are subject to credit approval and availability. All deals are subject to excess mileage and damage charges. Prices are calculated based on the following tax saving assumptions; England & Wales, 40% tax rate. The above prices were calculated using a flat payment profile. The Electric Car Scheme Limited provides services for the administration of your salary sacrifice employee benefits. The Electric Car Scheme Holdings Limited is a member of the BVRLA (10608), is authorised and regulated by the FCA under FRN 968270, is an Appointed Representative of Marshall Management Services Ltd under FRN 667174, and is a credit broker and not a lender or insurance provider.
