One of the lightest electric bicycles presented – Lotus Type 136

The British company Lotus Cars Limited, well known among racing fans, specializing in the production of sports and racing cars, presented its new unique product. This is the Lotus Type 136 racing road bike, which is billed as the lightest electric model on the market.


While the firm has made a name for itself as producing some of the lightest roadsters and coupes for track and road use (as only the Esprit or Exige can match), it appears to be determined to break records in the world of cycling too. It must be said that Lotus Type 136 is not her first attempt. The company already had quite successful projects related to cycling.


For example, the most significant of them took place in 1992. It was the Olympic Games in Barcelona. There, English cyclist Chris Boardman set a 108-meter world record in his Lotus Type 4000. And his gold medal was the first for the country in 72 long years. Then there were the cycling races in Tokyo at the 2021 Games. And now Lotus, apparently inspired by these results, has decided to introduce its new electric bike.

The Type 136, apparently, was developed with an eye on the main slogan of the company's founder Colin Chapman - "simplify, then add lightness." That's why the unique combination of durable construction materials and impressive aerodynamics is reflected in the modern electric bicycle.


The Lotus Type 136 power plant includes an electric motor and a battery with a capacity of 193 Wh. It, subject to a single charge, allows you to use the additional assistance of the electric drive for 3 hours. The total weight of the HPS electric transmission is 1,2 kg. The engine weight does not exceed 300 grams, and it is positioned as one of the lightest power units on the market today.

There is information that the technology for its creation was borrowed from the Mars Lander Project. It is noteworthy that at a quick glance at the bicycle this motor will hardly be noticeable, because it is successfully integrated into the design of the carriage. The battery is also not immediately detectable. It is cleverly disguised as a regular water bottle.

The weightlessness of the structure is also supported by the frame of this vehicle. It is handmade by Italian craftsmen from carbon fiber, making it lightweight. Thus, the manufacturer managed to present an ultra-light electric bike weighing only 9,8 kilograms. And at the moment, it seems that only the Domestique bicycle, produced by the same Monegasque company HPS, whose transmission is installed in the Lotus Type 136, can compete with it. It weighs 9,0 kg.


At first glance, everything is attractive about this new electric bike model. Everything, but not the price. At this stage, the Type 136 will be limited to 136 units. Their selling price is within 25 euros, which at the current exchange rate is about 000 million rubles.

The manufacturer, of course, is voicing the prospect of releasing a more affordable, standard version of its new product to the market, but this will not happen until spring next year. In this case, the price tag is also unlikely to impress in a good way. The model with SRAM transmissions is expected to cost almost 18 euros. So you can hardly call them budget.