Lotus produces all natural hemp car

Car manufacturer shifts focus from fuel to fabric with new model
Lotus’s Eco Elise features a hemp spoiler and body panels, sisal carpets, woollen fabric seats and water-based paint. The unusual materials reduce the environmental impact of production. Hemp and sisal are natural, renewable fibres that absorb CO2 as they grow; the chemical-free wool uses no dye and little processing, and the water-based paint saves energy thanks to its very low cure temperature.

Performance is enhanced too, as the Eco Elise is nearly 4% lighter than the 860kg standard Elise – enough to reduce the CO2 emitted in powering the car from 196g per km to 184g, and to boost fuel efficiency from 34mpg to 42.7mpg. Lotus claims that the weight loss has improved the handling and braking performance.

But why, you might ask, is the Elise a petrol model, when Lotus has pioneered electric and hybrid engines? Matthew Reed of Lotus Engineering explains that the car is intended to showcase the materials, not the latest eco engines. And although the ‘technology demonstrator’ car, launched at last year’s British Motor Show, is still undergoing testing, Reed is optimistic about its prospects: "I wouldn’t say that mass-production is out of the question." Indeed, successes are already being fed into the production of other models – water-based paint will be used throughout the company by next year, a world first in car manufacturing. – Anna Pigott

16 April 2009

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