At the British Auto Show in London; Lotus unveiled the next step in environmentally friendly cars. The Lotus Eco Elise goes one step further than regular earth friendly cars. While most manufacturers are concerned only with tailpipe CO2 emissions; the Eco Elise jumps ahead of the pack by being built with sustainable materials.
The paint will be water based. The interior will be comprised of bio-degradable materials. The seats, panels, and trim will all contain hemp, eco-wool and sisal. The hardtop will contain solar panel to help power the electrical system.
This car will not only be more environmentally friendly, it will also kick some tail on the track. The usage of these sustainable materials ensures the sportiness of the Eco Elise by further reducing the already feathery weight by another 70 lbs. And in car performance terms, that is a big plus!
Lotus itself has also cleaned up its act. “Dramatic improvements to the culture and operations at Lotus has rewarded the company with staggering reductions in energy (Electricity 14%, Gas 30%) and water (11%) consumed across the Hethel headquarters in 2007, compared to 2006. These advances have coincided with improvements in recycling, with 57% of waste product now being recycled.”
(http://www.seriouswheels.com/cars/2008/top-2008-Lotus-Eco-Elise.htm)
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=128807
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