Lamborghini Not Yet Sold on Idea of EV Supercar
Lamborghini won’t rush a pure electric supercar to market as it doesn’t believe the current battery technology is adequate.
Speaking at the Automotive News Europe Congress this week, Lamborghini Chief Technical Officer Maurizio Reggiani said that no battery currently exists that could fulfill its expectations for a supercar. The Italian automaker says that it would only produce an EV if it could exceed 186 mph and complete three laps of the Nurburgring without the power dipping off or the battery going flat.
“Our target is to deliver a super sports car, and these specifications don’t exist with a battery package in terms of energy and power,” Reggiani said.
The automaker revealed its future vision for an EV supercar late last year with the Terzo Millenio concept (above). The concept introduced new battery technology theories, such as a carbon fiber nanotube body that doubled as the vehicle’s battery pack and supercapacitors that could easily capture and release energy as needed. It was developed in part with MIT and is part of a larger partnership with the university that Lamborghini hopes will result in a battery that meets or exceeds its expectations. Until that happens, Lamborghini won’t be wasting its time and resources on a pure EV.
SEE ALSO: Lamborghini Urus Plug-in Hybrid is Coming Soon
Battery tech isn’t the only thing holding an electric Lamborghini back. Sound is another major factor, Lamborghini says, and it’s easy to see why. The company is known for its screaming V12s and V10s and it’s just not ready to trade its signature internal combustion engine soundtrack in for silence. Its customers probably aren’t, either, so its decision not to rush an EV supercar to market should sit just fine with its fans.
That doesn’t mean Lamborghini is shunning electricity entirely, though. The automaker is expected to roll out a plug-in hybrid version of its new Urus SUV sometime this year. The plug-in SUV will likely feature a 4.0-liter V8 and electric motor making a minimum of 680 hp and 626 lb-ft of torque – the same setup that appears in the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid. The automaker is also expected to roll out plug-in versions of its mid-engine supercars as well, but it’s not yet clear when they may arrive.
No rush, Lamborghini. You do you, and car enthusiasts will continue to love you for it.
[Source: Automotive News Europe]
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Sam McEachern holds a diploma in journalism from St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, and has been covering the automotive industry for over 5 years. He conducts reviews and writes AutoGuide's news content. He's a die-hard motorsports fan with a passion for performance cars of all sorts.
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