Up close with the Lotus Type 136: Space tech at the heart of ultra-light ultra-expensive e-bike

One of the big talking points in the world of tech this week has been the new Lotus Type 136, a super-light e-bike that comes with an eye-watering price tag of £20,000. The bike was on display at the Rouleur Live event in London, where GCN grabbed a closer look.

The Type 136 is a speed-oriented e-bike for the road, but inspired by the track, based on the design of the Hope/Lotus bike used by Team GB, with an ultra-wide fork and high seatstays.

Along with the exceptional design that we have come to expect from the automotive brand was the inclusion of some tech pulled from space. The motor, a Watt Assist Pro system from HPS, is derived from NASA's Mars Lander.

© GCN/ Rouleur Live

The battery that only weights 300 grams is concealed in the bottle mounted to the frame

When designing the motor in the first place, dependability was the paramount consideration due to the extreme environment it would be exposed to. However, looking at the motor outside of the bike, it becomes apparent just how compact the unit is.

When installed, it fits seamlessly into the bike, with the battery itself disguised as a drinks bottle that mounts to the frame with a traditional bottle cage.

• Read more: Lotus launches £20,000 e-bike inspired by Olympic track bikes

© GCN/ Rouleur Live

The HPS motor unit was originally developed for use on the Mars Lander project

For the total e-bike system of motor and battery, the weight penalty is around 1.2 kilos. That is shockingly light when compared to more mainstream offerings, which can be triple the weight of this system.

The Type 136 is light by any standards for a fully integrated aero road bike, weighing a reported 9.8kg, but this is even more astonishing when you consider that it houses a motor and battery that can supply the rider with up to 200 watts of assistance at the cranks.

With a capacity of 193 wHr, representatives from Lotus said that in the real world, this motor and battery combination is equivalent to around three hours of riding.

• Read more: Suspension, motors and hub gears: Gravel trends from Rouleur Live

© GCN

The Lotus Type 136 features a super-wide fork and seatstays

All of this technology does not come cheap, and compounding this is the initial limited edition run of only 136 bikes being produced, each of which will have its unique production number on the chainstay.

This 'black gold' version of the bike was the one on display at Rouleur Live, built up with Campagnolo's top-spec wireless groupset, Super Record, along with aero Bora Ultra WTO wheels from the Italian brand, paired with Pirelli P-Zero Race tyres.

© GCN/ Rouleur Live

Only 136 of these Lotus Racing Edition bikes will be produced, each one numbered on the chainstay

The price will come down slightly when the bike goes on general sale in spring 2024, available in yellow or black and equipped with SRAM groupsets and DT Swiss Wheels. The SRAM RED version will set you back £16,999 and the SRAM Force version £15,199.

Whichever way you spin it, this certainly is a hyperbike.

What do you think of the Lotus 136? Let us know in the comments below.