Lotus secures government funding for all-electric LEVA platform

The grant was ascertained via the Advanced Route to Market Demonstrator competition, which is financed by the UK's Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Known as LEVA – short for Lightweight Electric Vehicle Architecture – the platform will underpin the entirety of the brand’s next generation of sports cars.

Lotus is collaborating on the project with supply chain partner Sarginsons Industries, alongside academics from Brunel University London.

“This is great news for our industry and its transition to electrification,” said Lotus’s Executive Director of Engineering, Matt Windle.

“Following the launch of the Evija – our all-electric hypercar – this project is a key building block in our vision to deliver a full range of electrified Lotus performance cars.”

“Funding of this nature is critical to stimulate the automotive industry and supply chain as both continue to adjust to a rapidly changing landscape.”

Above: The all-electric Evija hypercar in development 

The aforementioned hypercar is one of the most powerful production cars ever made.

The £1.7 million (AU$3.1 million) vehicle’s four electric motors draw voltage from a 70kWh lithium-ion battery, and produce 1470kW/1700Nm.

Earlier this year Lotus announced that it would completely phaseout internal combustion engines by 2022.

The iconic British manufacturer has some prior experience producing electric platforms, having designed and built the chassis for the original Tesla Roadster.