Lotus Exige 270E Tri-Fuel

The Lotus Exige 270E Tri-fuel is the most powerful road version of the Lotus Exige ever, and it runs on any mixture of gasoline, bioethanol and methanol. Emerging technologies will allow alcohol fuels such as methanol, already a proven internal combustion fuel, to be made synthetically from CO2 extracted from the atmosphere. An alcohol-based fuel derived renewably from atmospheric CO2 would be a key piece of the jigsaw allowing society to transfer to sustainable, renewable, carbonneutral internal combustion.

Lotus Engineering is researching the use of sustainable synthetic alcohols as potential future fuels, possibly for introduction within 15-20 years. The Exige 270E Tri-fuel is part of Lotus' research to understand the complex combustion and callibration process involved in running on mixtures of alcohol fuels and gasoline, which will be important for a successful transition from today's fuels to the sustainable, synthetic fuels of the future.

2008 Lotus Exige 270E Tri-Fuel

TECHNICAL

  • Engine - Supercharged 1.8 litre VVTL-i air/air intercooler
  • Power - 270 bhp (201 kW / 273 PS) at 8000 rpm
  • Torque - 184 lbft (260 Nm) at 5500 rpm
  • Performance - Maximum speed: 158 mph (255 km/h)
  • 0-60 mph: 3.88 seconds (0-100 km/h: 4.1 seconds)
  • Renewable fuel source - bioethanol E85 or methanol
  • Carbon cycle corrected CO2 output <100 g/km running on E85 bioethanol
  • Tending to 0 g/km on sustainable synthetic methanol
  • When compared with standard Exige S: 19% more power
  • 14% more torque
  • Calibrated for flex-fuel operation

Flex-fuel technology gives a practical route to the introduction of sustainable synthetic fuels. By including an alcohol sensor in the fuel system, the advanced Lotus engine management system enables the Lotus Exige 270E Tri-fuel to run on any fuel mixture of gasoline, bioethanol and methanol.

Source: Lotus

Gallery: Lotus Exige 270E Tri-Fuel (2008)