Proton unveils prototype Hybrid Car Developed In Collaboration With Lotus

Ultimately the EVE system is aimed at providing strong, viable business case propositions for offering a hybrid variant on a medium-high volume production car.

The research and development program was undertaken by a cross-functional team of Proton and Lotus engineers working together at Proton's base at Shah Alam near Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and at Lotus Engineering's Hethel Headquarters in the UK.

The resulting EVE Hybrid Prototype was based on a Proton GEN.2 with a 1.6litre petrol engine, showcasing a trio of production-representative technologies including:

- a 'micro-hybrid' start-stop system - a full parallel hybrid drive - a continuously variable transmission

Compared to the baseline Proton GEN.2, tailpipe emissions are reduced from a competitive 172g/km to just 134g/km, a reduction of 22 percent, while fuel economy improves 28 percent from 7.2litres/100km to 5.6 litres/100km.

According to Mike Kimberley, Chief Executive Officer of Group Lotus, the technologies and know-how showcased in the EVE Hybrid are the latest addition to the Proton family of companies suite of efficient performance solutions for the automotive industry.

"As an automotive consultancy and global OEM, we are able to manage all elements of a hybrid integration project, with extensive drivetrain, vehicle, electrical and control systems expertise from design and development through to production," said Mr. Kimberley.

This project is an example of how the Proton / Lotus family can successfully deliver exceptional projects and products and the EVE Hybrid technology further reinforces the Group's position as creative technology leaders in 'green' automotive engineering.

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