What it is and the problem it solves
It is a battery electric sports car built on the Lotus Elise chassis. It solves the problem of proving that a serial-production all-electric car can meet highway legality, performance, and range expectations simultaneously.
How it works
It uses a lithium-ion battery pack mounted in the chassis of a modified Lotus Elise. An AC induction motor drives the rear wheels. Power flows from battery to motor with 88% average efficiency, consuming 21.7 kWh per 100 miles at the wheel.
What works
It delivers 244 miles per charge as measured by the U.S. EPA. It accelerates to 60 mph in 3.7 or 3.9 seconds. It achieves 120 mpg gasoline equivalent efficiency. It is the first production all-electric car with over 200 miles of range and the first using lithium-ion cells in that role.
What does not
It does not establish a scalable platform. It does not solve thermal management at scale. It does not address charging time, grid dependency, or battery replacement cost. None of those are mentioned in the sources.
What it changes
It changes the benchmark for production EV range and performance. It proves lithium-ion cells can power a highway-legal sports car with 244 miles per charge and sub-4-second acceleration. It shifts the question from ‘can it work?’ to ‘how far can it go?’
Is it worth your time
Yes—if you are evaluating early electric drivetrain viability, lithium-ion integration in performance vehicles, or the baseline for highway-legal EV range claims. No—if you need data on cost, charging infrastructure, serviceability, or real-world degradation: none is provided.
