Does Lamborghini Make EVs?
When Ferruccio Lamborghini was growing up in Italy in the first half of the 20th century, he could not have imagined that one day, freeways would be filled with vehicles powered by electricity. Even the “perfect car” the former tractor maker created in 1962 ran on gasoline. Today, several automakers offer electric options. But does Lamborghini make EVs yet?
The long road from gasoline to electric
Some automakers are turning their attention to EVs, or electric cars, as petroleum sources are at risk of becoming depleted. At least they’re making promises to do so. So far, most automotive offerings purported to be electric are actually hybrids, plug-in hybrids, or self-charging hybrids, explains Car and Driver magazine.
The first mass-produced all-electric vehicle, the Nissan Leaf, made its debut around a decade ago. Remarkable as it may seem, it was not the first electric car in the world. A battery-powered carriage was devised by British inventor Robert Anderson around the time Ferruccio Lamborghini was taking his first steps. It was little more than a buggy, but it was a start along the path to true electric vehicles.
The first electric car was built by a Des Moines chemist named William Morrison and hit American roads around 1890. The six-passenger car could attain a top speed of 14 mph. Not terribly impressive, but it was another push forward for EV technology. Nonetheless, when Henry Ford debuted his mass-produced Model T in 1908, interest in electric cars fell by the wayside, explains the US Department of Energy.
Does Lamborghini make EVs?
The short answer is no. Or maybe it’s “not yet.” At the time of this writing, the esteemed luxury automaker hasn’t put an EV on the market, but this may change soon.
Lamborghini CEO, Stephan Winkelmann, declared earlier this month that the last fully gas-powered Lambo will roll off the production line in 2024, explains Car and Driver. Until then, the carmaker plans to hybridize its roster of vehicles while perfecting the all-electric it promises to debut sometime after 2025.
As for the company’s plan to make hybrid vehicles, Winkelmann had this to say:
“Performance and the authentic Lamborghini driving experience will remain the focus of the company’s engineers and technicians in developing new technologies, and the application of lightweight carbon fiber materials will be crucial in compensating for weight due to electrification. The company’s internal target for this phase is to reduce product CO2 emissions by 50% by the beginning of 2025.”
Don’t expect to see the Terzo Millennio on showroom floors anytime soon, however. Designed in conjunction with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Dinca Research Lab, the electric concept car features advanced propulsion along with superior battery storage, regenerative braking, and wheels with separate, integrated motors. It may even have the power to fix its own parts, MotorTrend reports.
When Lamborghini finally does start selling an all-electric vehicle, competition in the luxury electric car market may be steep. After all, Ferrari also announced their intention to debut an all-electric car by 2025, Bloomberg News reports.
EV carmakers today
In 2021, global interest in EV technology is surging, and many automakers now make electric vehicles. An Italian-built Aspark will set you back $3 million, and the Buick Velite is only available in China, says MotorTrend, but there are other EV options to choose from.
- Audi e-tron
- BMW i3
- Chevrolet Volt
- Ford Mustang Mach-E
- Jaguar I-Pace
Many other automakers, including Honda, GMC, and Hyundai, expect to launch an electric line of cars within the next year or two.