The carbon footprint is reduced by using locally sourced material (I never knew Lotus had a factory in Amsterdam but there you go) and they have used water based paint and a hemp resin on the exterior of the car. The interior is made from eco wool and sisal.
Perhaps the most annoying aspect for drivers, though, is the Bono type dash display. It informs you when you need to change gear and generally gives you tips on how to drive in such a way that you will, like a Thundercat, assist in the saving of the earth.
It’s hard to imagine that the Elise, essentially the world’s fastest go-kart, could have ever belched that much nasty smog into the atmosphere anyway. Granted it fells like you’re going marginally slower than the speed of sound but it weighs less than the front wing of a 1:43 RC F1 car.
However, as is the trend, Lotus must be applauded for their efforts and the by-product spewed forth from the exhaust of a hemp based car may not be any better to that of any other car, but those sat behind just won’t care.