Detroit Electric gears up to launch world’s fastest production EV

Detroit Electric, revived in 2008 by former CEO of the Lotus Engineering Group, Albert Lam, is finalising dynamic testing of its SP:01 pure-electric sportscar at a facility in Europe ahead of its introduction in some global markets. This latest version has seen additional development work carried out by the company’s engineers and designers since a pre-production version of the vehicle was revealed to the media at events in Detroit, USA, and Shanghai, China, last year. Only 999 examples will be built at Detroit Electric’s new production facility in Wayne County, Michigan, USA with cars sold through a network of specialist retail partners.

The SP:01 is based on the Lotus Elise platform, like the Tesla Roadster. The big difference is that the SP:01 is supposed to be the fastest pure electric production car so far. According to Detroit Electric's own figures, 0-100kph takes just 3.7sec — the same as the Tesla Roadster Sport’s — but its top speed is said to be an impressive 155mph/250kph, 50kph more than its closest relative. 

These numbers are courtesy of an air-cooled electric motor that develops 201bhp and 166lb ft of torque, while the transmission is a four-speed manual that helps improve the SP:01’s performance. The gearbox is the six-speed unit from the Elise, with fifth and sixth gear blocked off. The electric motor’s instant torque means that swift progress will be made in any gear; using the clutch isn't necessary when stopping or moving off as a result.

Detroit Electric will restore the fifth cog, if a client ticks the correct box in the options list, for those "wishing to explore the vehicle's impressive top speed".

Customers will have also the option of a two-speed automatic transmission, “specially developed for electric and hybrid vehicles”. The bespoke body is made out of carbon fibre to help in containing the weight down to 1090kg.

The car's suspension has been specifically tuned to suit the different weight distribution that the SP:01 has compared to the Elise. The battery pack has a capacity of 37kWh, which gives the SP:01 a range of 190 miles/300km. A full recharge is claimed to be achievable in just over four hours.

Every car will feature a smartphone mounted on the dash, named SAMI (Smartphone Application Managed Infotainment system), that will allow the driver to manage the car’s subsystems, such as the navigation, music player, charge status and other vehicle telemetry. 

The SP:01 also has the capability to charge and discharge bi-directionally, through a patented Detroit Electric home charging and power back-up unit, named ‘360 Powerback’. This allows the car’s stored electric energy to power the owner's home if necessary. 

The SP:01 sports car is the first production vehicle to be marketed under the Detroit Electric brand since 1939. Slated to go on sale later this year, the SP:01 will be the first of a new family of all-electric production cars, including two other high-performance models that will enter production by end-2014.  

Detroit Electric, which was set up in 1906, was a prolific manufacturer of electric cars and went on to make around 13,000 vehicles by 1939.

Photograph: A Detroit Electric SP:01 electric sports car, under a non-production prototype body, undergoes dynamic testing at a facility in Europe.