It was only a matter of time before electric vehicles began their quest for domination within motorsports. Lotus is ready to unveil its take on the future of EV endurance racing. With a strong nod to their own racing heritage, the Lotus E-R9 merges the past with the present, into a sign of even greater things to come.
Aerodynamic engineering plays an important role in the development of this e-race car. In fact, the chief aerodynamicist responsible for the design says the E-R9 is “partly driven like a car and partly flown like a fighter jet”. However, there is no further information on whether a pilot’s helmet comes with the E-R9 yet.
Some of the engineering behind the E-R9 includes an active aero package featuring morphing body panels and aerodynamic control surfaces. The fully electric powertrain uses some of the technology behind the Lotus Evija all-electric hypercar.
This advanced EV drivetrain powers each wheel independently with torque-vectoring enhancements. The system will feature controls enabling the driver to make adjustments on the fly.
Lotus anticipates EV battery technology to continue accelerating toward innovation into the next decade. By 2030, they predict the ability to swap the battery out during pit stops if necessary. This will be crucial to experiencing endurance racing success in a racing EV.
Perhaps the most attention-grabbing feature of the Lotus E-R9 is the stylish design itself. This looks like the kind of car you see in a futuristic sci-fi movie, not on the race track within a matter of a decade.
Yet, this Lotus electric race car concept is set to hit the tracks by 2030 if all goes according to plan. In case you are wondering, the letters E and R in the name stand for Endurance Racer. Imagine what a car like this can do at the Le Mans 24 Hours race, will it be silent as it rips down the straight sections between the chicanes?
Only time will tell. If it crosses the finish line in 2030, it will be in celebration of Lotus’ 75th anniversary from when they made their first appearance at Le Mans. Until then, don’t let the E-R9 fly under the radar. Stay tuned to Lotus for more updates.
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