Centrica and Lotus set new car ownership path

Centrica plc, the parent company of British Gas, and British motor manufacturer Lotus plan to revolutionise vehicle ownership by making the car an extension of the home capable of storing and selling electricity.

The new partnership will also help establish a new global charging and energy infrastructure for new products as part of Lotus’s journey to net-zero carbon following huge investment into the business since 2018.

Carl Bayliss, vice-president of Centrica Innovations, said: “Owning an electric vehicle isn’t the same as owning an internal combustion engine car. We see a future where the customer, car and home are connected, enabling new services beyond charging the car, and new products and experiences replacing the unremarkable standard relationship with energy and the ownership of a car today.

“Lotus is the perfect partner as we embark on this, given the recognition and appeal of the brand globally and the fact that it is right at the beginning of its electrification journey.”

Uday Senapati, executive director, Corporate Strategy for Lotus, added: “Centrica brings a wealth of energy sector expertise to the table that will not only help us to determine the right course for our mobility strategy, but the hands-on capability to ensure that the right infrastructure is in place globally. The future of mobility is a huge opportunity for providing value-added services to the consumer and this platform will put Lotus at the forefront of that digital mobility ecosystem.

“We have set ambitious targets for decarbonising both our vehicles and our operations. Given the rate of change required and the importance of getting it right first time, the support of our strategic partner Centrica is going to be vital.”

Production of the all-electric Lotus Evija hypercar will start at the company’s Norfolk site later in 2020.