The Lotus Emeya has a new speed record to its name—just not the one you were probably expecting.
The British marque says its latest battery-powered model is the fastest-charging electric production car currently on the market, according to a new study. Independent testing showed that the powerful sedan can go from 10- to 80-percent battery capacity in less than a quarter-hour.
The study was conducted by independent global consulting firm P3, according to a press release shared by the automaker. The group looked at 10 luxury EVs currently available in Asia, where the Emeya is built, to see how fast it took their batteries to recharge when connected to a 400-kW DC fast charger. In addition to the Emeya, P3 test subjects included the BMW i7, Genesis Electrified G80, Mercedes-Benz EQS, and the world’s best-selling EV, the Tesla Model Y.
The Lotus Emeya connected to a DC fast charger
Lotus’s enthusiasm for P3’s study appears related to the fact that the Emeya came out on top and it wasn’t even close. Testing showed that the four-door reached a peak charging power of 402kW and an average charging power of 331kW. Because of this, it was possible to charge the EV’s battery from 10- to 80-percent capacity in just 14 minutes and add over 192 miles of range in just 10 minutes.
The EV that fared next best in the testing was the XPeng G9, a crossover not currently available in the U.S. Its peak charging power was 320kW. The Emaya’s peak charging power is also far better than those of two notable EVs that weren’t tested: the Porsche Taycan (320kW) and the Lucid Air Sapphire (300kW), which topped P3’s last charging rate study, which focused on EVs available in the U.S.
The Emeya, which like the Eletre SUV will be built in China, is a departure for Lotus, an automaker, that until recently, had only produced zippy sports cars. The brand has made clear that it intends to broaden its lineup, as it transforms into an all-electric automaker. The company hasn’t forgotten its roots, though. The sedan, or “hyper-GT,” features a typically bold design and a dual-motor powertrain that can produce up to 905 hp. Sure, the Emeya may be more comfortable (and sensible) than past Lotus vehicles, but it will still deliver the thrills the brand is known for.
