King Charles has reinforced his commitment to environmental sustainability by adding an electric vehicle (EV) to his impressive collection of luxury cars for the first time. The 76-year-old monarch has selected the Lotus Eletre, a cutting-edge electric hyper-SUV known for its high performance and use of sustainable materials.
Priced around £120,000, the Lotus Eletre will join Charles’s fleet at one of his rural estates, painted in the traditional royal claret – a color the King insisted on for its dignified appearance, even when the car is used in a private capacity. A source told The Sun, “The King has always liked eco-friendly vehicles, but he believes royal claret is the right look, even off duty. It will look far more professional and in harmony with the state vehicles.”
This choice reflects Charles’s longstanding dedication to environmental issues. The Lotus Eletre impresses not only with its eco-friendly credentials but also with exceptional performance capabilities: it can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in just 2.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 162 mph. Its dual-motor powertrain delivers 905 horsepower and a range of approximately 280 miles on a single charge.
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Developed at the Lotus Tech Creative Centre in the Midlands, the vehicle’s production takes place in Wuhan, China, as part of the Geely Group’s involvement. Geely, a Chinese multinational, owns a 51% stake in Lotus, blending British automotive heritage with global innovation.
Environmental advocates have welcomed the King’s decision, seeing it as a strong endorsement of electric vehicles aligned with the UK’s ambitious plan to ban purely petrol and diesel cars by 2030. Rumors suggest that if Bentley does not offer an electric limousine for official use soon, the royal household may consider other manufacturers for state vehicles.
While official state cars remain without number plates, the King’s privately owned vehicles, including this new electric addition, carry standard DVLA registrations. Sir Michael Stevens, the Keeper of the Privy Purse, noted last year that state Bentleys would be refurbished to run on biofuel, with a longer-term goal of transitioning official cars towards full electrification.
This latest acquisition signifies a decisive step by King Charles towards sustainable luxury motoring, setting a high-profile example for a greener future.