Lotus Bringing Plug-N-Play Hybrid Drivetrain System To Geneva Written By: Chris Paukert Filed Under: All News <http://news.windingroad.com/category/automotive-news/> , Concept Cars <http://news.windingroad.com/category/concept-cars/> , Economy Cars <http://news.windingroad.com/category/body-stylesmarket-segment/economy/\ > , Europe <http://news.windingroad.com/category/countriesmarkets/euro/> , Future Vehicles <http://news.windingroad.com/category/future-cars/> , Geneva Motor Show <http://news.windingroad.com/category/auto-shows/geneva-motor-show/> , Hybrids <http://news.windingroad.com/category/alternative-propulsion/hybrids/> , Lotus <http://news.windingroad.com/category/auto-news/lotus/> , Sedans <http://news.windingroad.com/category/body-stylesmarket-segment/sedans/> , Tech <http://news.windingroad.com/category/tech/> March 5th, 2007 6:45 PM [Add to Delicious] <http://del.icio.us/post?url=http://news.windingroad.com/concept-cars/lo\ tus-bringing-plug-n-play-hybrid-drivetrain-system-to-geneva/&title=Lotus\ %20Bringing%20Plug-N-Play%20Hybrid%20Drivetrain%20System%20To%20Geneva> [lotus-eve-concept005-sm.jpg] <http://news.windingroad.com/concept-cars/lotus-bringing-plug-n-play-hyb\ rid-drivetrain-system-to-geneva/>
The folks over at Lotus Engineering have teamed up with shareholder Proton to create what is essentially a plug-n-play hybrid drivetrain system. To be shown this week at the Geneva Motor Show, the so-called EVE Hybrid (Efficient, Variable, Environmental) is being displayed in a second-generation Proton sedan to showcase "how OEMs can introduce lower emissions variants to existing model ranges that currently only offer conventional gasoline and diesel powertrains." Translation? Lotus has been working to develop drop-in hybrid technology that can be retrofitted to older vehicle designs. Lotus claims that their new EVE system can cut C02 emissions by up to 22-percent when fitted to the Proton's 1.6-liter gasoline four. This, while realizing a stout 28-percent fuel economy increase (from 39.2 miles-per-gallon to 50.2 mpg). The gains are made possible by a new system that features what Lotus' engineers call a `micro-hybrid' start-stop system, along with a full parallel hybrid drive system and a continuously variable transmission. (More images, details <http://news.windingroad.com/concept-cars/lotus-bringing-plug-n-play-hyb\ rid-drivetrain-system-to-geneva/#more-6524> )
