Technical specifications for the new plug-in-hybrid Lotus Eletre have surfaced through a Chinese government filing.
The electric SUV replaces its 108kWh battery with the smaller 70kWh unit sourced from Geely sibling brand Zeekr’s 9X luxury SUV.
This allows for an electric-only driving range of up to 220 miles on a full charge – a figure based on China’s CLTC test cycle, which is known to be more optimistic than the WLTP standard used across Europe.
In the 9X, this battery can be charged from 20-80% in just over eight minutes. If the Eletre PHEV achieves the same performance, it would become the UK’s fastest-charging PHEV, with a peak charging rate well beyond 400kW. However, this capability has not yet been officially confirmed.
The Eletre PHEV also uses the same turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine fitted to the 9X. This engine can either power the wheels directly or continuously recharge the battery while driving.
Details regarding the electric motors have not been disclosed, but the 9X features three motors that produce a combined 1381bhp. Lotus has previously stated that its version of this powertrain – known as Hyper Hybrid – will deliver 912bhp, yet the 9X’s output shows the system has additional performance potential.
Depending on trim level and optional features, the Eletre PHEV’s weight ranges from 2575kg to 2625kg, placing it close to the weight of the existing fully electric model.
Visually, it remains very similar to the EV version, aside from a more open front grille and unique ‘For Me’ badging on the bootlid. This badge is likely to be replaced with a more traditional ‘Hybrid’ emblem in the UK and European markets.
The Eletre PHEV will receive a full reveal in January, with UK sales projected to start next autumn.
Lotus had once planned to sell only EVs by 2028, but slower-than-anticipated sales of the Eletre and Emeya have led the company to revise that strategy.
CEO Feng Qingfeng has said that launching hybrids will support Lotus in regions where EV adoption is progressing more slowly, such as Italy and Saudi Arabia.
The introduction of PHEVs is also expected to strengthen Lotus’s financial performance; the company reported an operating loss of $357 million over the first nine months of 2025.
