Concept of the Week

From hemp body parts to roof-mounted solar panels, the venerated sports-car maker shows a vision of a greener future

Lotus' Green Dream

By Stuart Schwartzapfel

Sports-car maker Lotus will unveil an environmentally focused iteration of its venerable Elise sports car at the British International Motor Show later this summer. A pure concept intended to flesh out future technologies, the Eco Elise treads lightly, thanks to sustainable materials and reductions in the energy required to manufacture the car. Renewable resources, including a trio of green materials—hemp, "eco-wool," and cactus-derived sisal—that are used in the body panels and interior trim reduce curb weight by 70.5 pounds, improving fuel efficiency. Lotus also collaborated with Dupont to develop a water-based paint system that not only reduces pollution during the application process, but also requires less energy to dry. Solar panels set into the hard top, meanwhile, power onboard electrical systems. The company's relatively efficient 4-cylinder engine sends the Eco Elise to 60 mph in under six seconds.

The Verdict: A green vision of performance through light weight.

Stuart Schwartzapfel is a regular contributor to BusinessWeek.com. Hehas studied the automotive marketplace and works as an advertising and marketing strategist for major manufacturers. He does not write about any car brands for which he currently works.

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