Lotus Cars announces new partnership with Midlands manufacturer and Advanced Propulsion Centre

Coventry-based light-weighting manufacturing company Sarginsons, has been chosen to be part of a ground-breaking engineering partnership led by Lotus, which has won UK Government funding to develop a next-generation Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) architecture.

The funding is awarded as part of the University of Warwick-based Advanced Propulsion Centre’s (APC) Advanced Route to Market Demonstrator (ARMD) competition. Funded by the UK Government’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the competition is delivered on behalf of the APC by Cenex, the UK’s Low Carbon and Fuel Cells Centre of Excellence.

The successful application is called LEVA, which stands for Lightweight Electric Vehicle Architecture. Led by Lotus, it is targeting the acceleration of and innovation behind new lightweight structures for next-generation BEVs. Incorporating cutting-edge UK-based engineering and digital manufacturing expertise, LEVA will be a showcase for pioneering new BEV chassis and powertrain concepts.

Lotus will collaborate with supply chain partner Sarginsons Industries and leading academics from Brunel University London to harness the full ‘light-weighting’ potential of the vehicle architecture.

Sarginsons will develop the vehicle chassis with a new alloy and the company’s commitment to Design for Manufacture (DfM) principles and technology means that the new product will be tested for stresses and distortions before it is cast and makes the development phase even more efficient.

Anthony Evans, Managing Director of Sarginsons, said: “The fact that Lotus recently announced a base in our region was great news in itself but to now be working with such a prestigious, high-performance brand is excellent for Sarginsons and for the supply chain.

“The development of the new alloy with Brunel University London is another example of our commitment to innovation and our continued investment in research and technology.

“What makes it even more exciting is the fact that we have the opportunity to work with other OEMs in the development of lightweight vehicles in the future by utilising this new alloy, which is based on our own existing alloy.

“It’s a big step for Sarginsons – a game changer – at a very exciting time for the company.”

Matt Windle, Executive Director of Engineering, Lotus, said: “As a collaboration between Lotus, Sarginsons Industries and Brunel University London there is a wealth of talent involved, and we are excited to have already begun the project work.

“Following the launch of the Lotus Evija, our all-electric 2,000 PS hypercar, this project is a key building block in our vision to deliver a full range of electrified Lotus performance cars ‘For The Drivers’. Funding of this nature is critical to stimulate the automotive industry and supply chain as both continue to adjust to a rapidly changing landscape.”