Nyobolt EV sports car can charge in six minutes

The original Series 1 Lotus Elise has been reimagined as a futuristic battery-electric supercar that showcases the advanced next-gen EV battery technology from UK-based developer Nyobolt.

Dubbed the Nyobolt EV and developed in partnership with ex-Jaguar stylist Ian Callum’s design and engineering firm, Callum, the concept car is said to be capable of recharging in just six minutes.

Redesigned by Julian Thomson, who penned the original 1996 Lotus Elise, the Nyobolt EV was created before Thomson moved to head up General Motors’ advanced design division in Europe.

Said to be 100mm wider and 150mm longer than the first Lotus Elise, the new electric car concept is powered by a modest 35kWh battery that provides a range of more than 250km.

Featuring a full carbon-fibre body, the Nyobolt sits on large 19-inch rims and, like the first Elise, includes a removeable roof panel.

Subtle changes to the familiar Elise body include raising the beltline and adding wider, more muscular front and rear fenders.

At the front, the original Elise reboot bags a pair of round LED headlights that double as extra air intakes.

The bumper has also been tweaked with a pair of huge air intakes that sit below the lamps. The central ‘smiling’ air dam carries over.

Other changes include rear-view cameras in place of door mirrors, a new side intake and new rear deck, plus a fresh ducktail spoiler.

To top-up the Nyobolt there’s a Type 2 charging port located behind the B-pillar.

The Nyobolt EV is claimed to weigh in at less than 1000kg, but there’s no information on how powerful or fast concept is, nor how exactly its batteries can be topped up so quickly.

However, the British-based tech firm claims that following more than 2000 fast-charging cycles the cells showing no significant loss in performance.

Perhaps more impressive is the declaration that the tech is all ready to go, with the advanced batteries set to enter production as soon as early 2024 and “ready to be adopted” for numerous applications across the automotive industry.

There’s no word yet on whether the Nyobolt EV concept will be pushed into even limited production.

The Lotus Elise, meanwhile, was discontinued in 2021 after 25 years on sale to make way for the arrival of the larger Emira.

It’s not the first time another car-maker has electrified the Elise; the Tesla Roadster produced from 2008 to 2012 was also based on the Series 1 Lotus roadster.

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