Are Lotus - Leading The Green Car Revolution?

Is it the car that makes it green or the fuel it runs on? One car manufacturing is racing to be the best in the new battle to become ‘green’.
Many new cars are focusing on offering ‘greener’ fuels for their cars and getting them to drive more economically - but this company are trying to make their entire ethos green, and are taking steps to become ‘responsible’.
Who Are They?
Well, this company are Lotus. They are trying to be the greenest car-maker in the UK, and are not keeping shy about it. They have a new eco-friendly car on the cards - although it’s nowhere near mass-production - but they want everyone to know about it. And everything else they are doing to be ‘green’.
After the huge success of the Tesla Roadster - the very popular all electric sports car (even George Clooney has one!) Lotus want more. They have created a sports car that actually has non-metal components on it’s shell and doesn’t have the ubiquitous leather seats!!!
So What’s New?
The Eco Elise as it’s name suggests, is based on the original sports car version of the same name - however, you will notice some differences. For starters, on it’s roof you will find some solar panals which will power the stereo and the air-conditioning rather than using it’s fuel. Running your hand over it’s bodywork, you may notice that not all it’s panals are metal - some are infact hemp. Yes - the well known plant!
You of course would not know that the paints used for it’s glorious coating were actually water-based products produced by DuPont - which are not only good for the environment in production but also less polluting when disposed of.
Moving inside as you slip into the drivers seat, you notice that the seat covers are made of wool - quite a surprise really - and nothing like the knitted surface you may have expected! As expected though - it will drive like a dream - all the mechanics of the car run the same as it’s namesake.
It’s Competition:
There are other classic car companies on it’s tail though, with the 2 below offering green credentials for their new models:
Jaguar - The Limo Green is their attempt to turn the company ‘green’ which should be coming about later this year. It is a series hybrid vehicle - basically an electric car that has it’s own onboard generater. Ideally it will run at around 120g of carbon per kilometer - but may even get below the 100g/km threshold that will save you paying road tax in the UK.
Land Rover - The Rehav, which is in effect a diesel hybrid verison of the classic style 4×4 vehicle. With little other green modifications bar that, it hopes to offer as little as 130g/km carbon release - now that really would be a first for these giant so called ‘gas-guzzling’ giants!!
The Next Step?
Companies used to be seen as reasonably ‘eco-friendly’ when they converted from oil-based fuels, but now the world is realising that this is a comparitively small step when cars like the Eco Elise start to have less impact on the environment around their factories and supply chain.
Moving towards creating a responsible company rather than creating just an eco friendly car seems to be the most logical step forward - and Lotus have taken that step!