Making an old Lotus into an electric sports car isn’t a new idea; this is how Tesla got its start. Given how famous electric cars have become, the idea of another company making a car like the Tesla Roadster might seem like something other than your time. But this one could be. A British engineering business called Nyobolt made One to show off its fast-charging battery technology. It could become a light, comfortable electric car. The Nyobolt EV is likely something you’ve seen a thousand times before. The car used to be known as the Lotus Exige. The company hired Julian Thompson, who designed the Series 1 Elise, to change the exterior of the car so that it could be used as an EV. This is what we see today. It looks more modern and longer, but it’s still definitely an Elise. The exterior is much less interesting than the battery, though. Thanks to its high-density battery technology, Nyobolt says its 35-kWh battery pack can charge at an impressive 350 kW. This speed, coupled with its lightweight, gives the sports car a curb weight of 2,746 pounds. This is a remarkable feat, especially for an electric car, and it’s something that will surely impress enthusiasts. People who are interested in electric cars will know that 350-kW charging is nothing new. Nyobolt says that the car can charge from 10% to 80% in 4 minutes and 37 seconds, thanks to its software for managing the battery. Still, it’s amazing that it was able to keep that speed for almost the whole charge cycle. The battery in question is, of course, very small—it’s only 35 kW. It charges at 350 kW for almost the whole charge cycle, though, if it can make 24.5 kWh in less than five minutes. This idea could be especially helpful for fast sports cars and small, fuel-efficient electric cars. More importantly, Nyobolt has shown that the technology is reliable and long-lasting. The company says it has charged and discharged its sample 4,000 times, which is 600,000 miles, and the battery still had more than 80% of its usable capacity. “All right, so what’s the range?” someone might ask. Auto Express said it would be about 155 miles from Nyobolt. The magazine seems to be disappointed with the estimate, but Nyobolt has made a lot of progress since the 2024 Mini Cooper SE will go as fast as 114 mph and weigh about 400 pounds more than this design. (The next SE almost doubles the range, but it weighs almost twice as much.) “We can help OEMs bring excitement back to the segment, which is literally weighed down by legacy batteries right now,” said Shane Davies, director of vehicle battery systems at Nyobolt. Our Nyobolt EV is more efficient because its batteries charge quickly and last longer. This means that the volume can be just right while still providing the necessary performance. Nyobolt’s name may still be relatively unknown, but rumors suggest that it is working with eight different companies to revolutionize battery technology. It has also collaborated with Callum, a British design firm started by Ian Callum, a former Jaguar designer, to create a small number of these test EVs. Nyobolt’s plans to produce and sell a number of these coupes based on the Elise could be a game-changer for the automotive industry. This will demonstrate to automakers that it is not only possible but also beneficial to produce lightweight, all-electric sports cars, sparking a new era of innovation and sustainability.
