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London (AFP) – The British auto industry, seeking to get around Brexit's hurdles, is speeding up electrification, as consumers avoid highly polluting engines driven by rapid advances in technology and government policy greener.
Four famous British-born but now foreign-owned automobile brands – Bentley and Mini, owned by Germany, Jaguar Land Rover (supported by Indians) and Lotus, controlled by Chinese – each presented this month. Here are plans for purely electric models to be placed next to their gasoline vehicles.
100% electric cars, which need to be recharged on the electricity grid, and hybrid vehicles, which combine electricity and gasoline engines, are gaining popularity, with more and more consumers turning away from the polluting internal combustion engine.
"You have to be electrified," said Phil Popham, Director of Lotus Cars, in an interview after unveiling the company's first 100% electric sports car, Evija – pronounced "E-vi-ya" Company will start manufacturing soon. year.
Lotus, owned 51 percent by Chinese auto giant Geely, expects the initial sale of only 130 supercars, each of which will cost around £ 1.7 million ($ 2.1 million, $ 1.8 million). d & # 39; euros).
– & # 39; Absolutely the future & # 39; –
"Electrification is absolutely part of our future," Popham said. "In the not-so-distant future, all our cars will offer electrification."
The Lotus plant in Hethel, East England, will see an investment of £ 100 million over the next five years as its sports car line grows with financial strength and knowledge Geely, who bought his majority stake two years ago.
Etika Automotive of Malaysia holds the remaining 49% of Lotus.
Popham said that the removal of bulky components, such as the internal combustion engine and gearbox, would see the hypercar said Evija have an electric motor on each wheel.
It will reach 0-60 miles per hour in three seconds and its maximum speed will be 200 mph. Fully loaded, it can travel only 400 km.
In the more affordable premium market, Jaguar Land Rover, owned by the Indian company Tata Motors, is planning a range of electric vehicles in its centrally located factory in England – starting with the Jaguar XJ luxury sedan model of new generation.
"The future of mobility is electric," said JLR General Manager Ralf Speth, whose company introduced its first electric vehicle, I-PACE, last year.
On the other hand, the BMW Mini division has recently launched plans for its first fully electric Mini Cooper at its Cowley plant in southern England.
"We will really be able to respond to customer demand as the Mini Electric (cars) follow exactly the same production line as traditional combustion engines," said David George, director of Mini UK, at AFP. visit to the establishment.
Across Europe, the number of models of electric cars, including hybrid vehicles, is expected to triple by 2021, according to the Brussels-based environment lobby group. , Transport & Environment.
In total, 214 models will be available for purchase by 2021, up from 60 in late 2018, said T & E.
– & # 39; Aware of the environment & # 39; –
"Consumers are increasingly tending to look for products and technologies that are more environmentally conscious and more efficient," said Adrian Hallmark, CEO of Bentley, at AFP.
He was speaking in July after the Volkswagen-owned luxury car maker detailed his futuristic concept of fully electric autonomous driving, the EXP 100 GT, in its premises located in central England.
Nine years ago, when Nissan unveiled its first hatchback, the consumer electric car, the Japanese automaker described it as a "game changer" for Britain's largest car factory in Sunderland, in the north-east of l & # 39; England.
Since then, more and more car manufacturers have developed plans for more environmentally friendly products – and have also electrified their current offerings.
Peter Wells, professor of economics and automotive specialist at Cardiff University, lamented the fact that many automakers were only replicating electric versions of pre-existing models, rather than being able to use them. Optimize the way they deploy leading-edge technology.
"The point is that the industry should simply replicate the existing gasoline / diesel product lines, whether hybrid or electric," said Wells.
"In my opinion, this strategy can still lead to less optimized vehicle designs," he noted.
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