Lotus Eco Elise Concept with Hemp Body Panels!

Lotus will unveil an environmentally-friendly version of its sporty roadster called Eco Elise at the British Motor Show that opens its doors on July 22. Unlike most eco-friendly propositions of our time, the Eco Elise study doesn’t revolve solely around tailpipe CO2 emissions. Instead, the Brits tried a holistic approach to ecology by using sustainable materials, cleaner manufacturing processes, renewable energy generation and of course, by reducing the car’s weight.

The renewable materials that have been incorporated into the Eco Elis project include hemp (industrial cannabis) that’s used on the car’s composite body panels, spoiler and seats, eco wool for the upholstery and sisal for the carpet. Cleaner manufacturing processes have been achieved by utilizing the latest water based paint technology. As for renewable energy generation, the Eco Elise’s hemp hard top incorporates a set of solar panels that provide power for the car’s electrical systems. -Continued

"Performance through light weight" is synonymous with Lotus, so a reduction in mass was a priority for the company’s engineers. The weight reduction philosophy has even extended to the audio system with a lightweight stereo and speaker system from Alpine that saves an impressive 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs). The Eco Elise also uses special lightweight wheels that reduce the unsprung mass and contribute a weight saving of approximately 15.8 kg (34.8 lbs) over the already light Elise wheels.

Overall, the weight saving programme for the Eco Elise has resulted in a total saving of around 32 kg (70.5 lbs) over the feather light Elise S, which consequently reduces the fuel required to drive the car.

9 comments

Anonymous // July 09, 2008

Although the paint scheme has been pushed a bit to faux for me, there is nothing but devout love for this automobile as when I drive one I never want to get out of it.
Matthew // July 10, 2008

This is an amazing car. Hopefully others will follow in its foot steps.
Oz // July 10, 2008

I hope Ali G and Dangerous Dave don't get their hands on the Eco Elise or they'll smoke it
Lord Markus // July 10, 2008

Lotus always surprises me...
Anonymous // July 22, 2008

Excellent! niceone Lotus.

PS Henry Ford built a model T with Hemp panels, he also wanted to run it on hemp oil but the oilmen shot that down.
Rick W. // July 25, 2008

Personally, I don't see how this can be classified as an Eco vehicle. Just because it's lighter, doesn't mean it produces less emissions.

Lotus is an excellent sport car manufacturer and a specialized one at that. As such, it doesn't produce as nearly many vehicles as other manufacturers, so it's carbon base is probably already very low in relative terms.

Then let's take the fact that this is a vehicle meant to be driven and that most people who will own it, will live in a place with lots of idling, just as much. So, creating a vehicle with eco materials, doesn't mean when the vehicle cold-starts, sits at idle while waiting in traffic, or traveling high speeds will produce less.

To me, this Lotus is 1/2 eco. Nice try, but not close enough.
Stian // October 03, 2008

Buying an electrical car made out of the same materials as any other car is also partly Eco. Nice work Lotus, you make us think, let's hope other manafacturators follows your example and starts to think about our environment seeing this within a bigger picture, I'l definately buy this car instead of the el I've been considering!
Anonymous // February 24, 2009

Now this is the body that Tesla should use.
Anonymous // May 12, 2009

Just great! I hope that all Lotus comes with hemp panels. Go green!