Today, it’s not uncommon to see folks going about their day on an electric scooter or bike. In the case of the latter, an e-bike usually provides more comfort thanks to a seated position, and of course allows users to occasionally pedal away in lieu of using the electric motor onboard, should they wish to get a bit of exercise in during the trip.
With that in mind, manufacturer Lotus cars recently launched a new addition to its lineup with the Type 136, a performance model e-bike which comes with some much-welcome functionality. Feng Qingfeng, Lotus Group CEO states:
“I am proud to launch the Lotus Type 136 as the next chapter in our high-performance journey. For the past 75 years, Lotus has been relentlessly pushing the boundaries of innovation on the road and track. Type 136 shows that we continue to do so. Launching alongside Eletre, Emeya and Evija, it will further expand global perceptions of what to expect from Lotus.”
Speaking at the Type 136’s launch event, six-time Olympic cycling champ and brand ambassador Chris Hoy commented:
“This is an incredible bike, which says so much about the pioneering endeavours of Lotus and the iconic status of its bikes over the years. As a teenager I vividly remember watching Chris Boardman powering the Type 108 to a gold medal in Barcelona in 1992 and smashing records on the Type 110 to wear the yellow jersey in the Tour de France two years later.”
According to Lotus, the Type 136 features the lightest e-bike motor that can deliver dual-usage for riders to further and faster, in addition to negineering and design which the company says is the result of three decades’ worth of experience with road and track cycling. The bike is made from a lightweight carbon fibre frame, as well as components which allow the bike to weigh at just around 9.8 kilograms, making it a lot lighter than similar products on the market.
The Lotus Type 136 comes with V-shaped handlebars, in addition to wing-shaped forks and vaulted chain stays, which Lotus says helps the bike move faster and more efficiently. For the battery, Lotus has cleverly included a power pack that’s designed to look like a water bottle, which makes for a rather discreet and minimalist design that keeps in line with the rest of the 136’s sleek and slimline look.
Perhaps one of the more interesting components of the Lotus Type 136 is the bike’s Watt Assist Pro Motor system – the company says that it’s “derived” from the Mars Lander Project, which gave significant focus to limited weight and zero maintenance for optimal operation. This e-bike motor setup comes from HPS and weighs at just a total of 1.2 kilograms, with the actual motor itself weighing at just 300 grams. Of course, other “regular” bike elements such as an adjustable seat, pedals, as well as other customizable components are present on the 136.
In terms of pricing and availability, the Lotus Type 136 is available as an exclusive limited first edition launch production run, which consists of just 136 bikes. These will be individually numbered and available in an iconic motorsport livery. Meanwhile, the standard model will go on sale in spring 2024. With that being said though, the Type 136 is considerably expensive at £20,000 for the first edition model.
