“Not an option”: Lamborghini is clear about the future, and it’s not electric, not hydrogen

With the world increasingly concerned about climate change, many automobile brands are opting to forgo the internal combustion engine in favor of greener options. Electrical and hydrogen engines are taking the world by a storm, with pioneers like Tesla influencing the future of passenger vehicles. However, iconic sports car company Lamborghini has announced alternative plans for the future of their vehicles.

Lamborghini denounces plans for an electric engine

Five years ago, amidst pressure to move away from the internal combustion engine, Lamborghini announced plans to hybridize their lineup of vehicles.

However, Lamborghini still plans on not releasing a fully electric engine at the present moment. "At the moment, now, the time would not be right [for an EV], at least not in a super sports car," Chief technical officer Rouven Mohr told Motor1 at the Nardo Technical Center during the launch of the Urus SE. "You have seen a lot of [electric] cars on the market that were not really successful." He continued: "I'm super happy with our current lineup, because with a hybridized lineup, we can live for the next decade," Mohr told Motor1. "But I also believe Lamborghini needs to have the transition [to electric power], because it's only a question of time when the mindset will change." Lamborghini has recognized the importance of converting to electrical engines, but also understands the current marketspace.

With hybrid vehicles growing in popularity,[1] and electrical vehicle sales slowing, Lamborghini has entered a key space in the market to appeal to the current customer base while also keeping a long-term plan which aligns with climate goals. The company plans to release their first all-electric vehicle in 2028.

No hydrogen program in the FIA World Endurance Championship

In line with Lamborghini's hybrid goals, CEO Stefan Winkelmann has said that they will not be pursuing a hydrogen program at the FIF World Endurance Championships. Instead, they will continue to hybridize and keep electric vehicles as a long-term plan.

Winkelmann stated to reported that hydrogen is "not an option for us." "From a pure technological point of view, it's an interesting thing. But as Lamborghini, we have our hybridization road map with classic combustion engines," said Mohr to reporters at Le Mans last month. "We are a small brand, and this applies also to technology development.

We have to focus on what is our priority. We cannot spread our effort on 10,000 different things. We have a clear strategy and hydrogen is not on our priority list."

Customers can expect electric from 2030

The time horizon Lamborghini's introduction of electric cars is expected to be from 2030 onwards. "For the more daily useable car, we still believe that, from the 2030s onwards, going full electric, like we showed with the Lanzador [electric concept car] at Pebble Beach last year," said Winkelmann. "This is our strategy."

However, the immediate future is to continue to elevating and pioneering hybrid technology. "[We plan to] stay with as much hybrid as possible with super sports cars, and to observe very closely how the opportunities can be with synthetic fuels, and to go into the next generation with those types of approach," continued Winkelmann. As the world moves towards a more sustainable future, automobile companies stand in the spotlight to provide engine solutions which align with international climate goals. However, Lamborghini has not bent to pressure and recognizes the role which hybrid vehicles play in making a transition to giving up the internal combustion engine for good. The internal combustion engine still makes up the overwhelming majority of engine around the world.

It will take a long transition process[2] not just from a manufacturing point of view, but to also convince consumers to "go green".

References

1. ^ hybrid vehicles growing in popularity, (www.ecoticias.com)
2. ^ a long transition process (www.ecoticias.com)