Detroit Electric pegs SP:01 production output at 999

(Phys.org) —Look what just pulled up to claim a parking spot in the electric sports car market. Detroit Electric has unveiled the SP:01, an all-electric car. With a top speed of 155 mph, the makers say it is the world's fastest production electric car. The two-seater SP:01 can stay on the go for 190 miles on a single charge. According to Detroit Electric, "With an impressive energy storage capacity of 37 kWh, the battery gives the SP:01 a range of almost 190 miles between recharges, when tested to the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) standard."

The car's battery cell type is lithium polymer and the charge time is 4.3 hours. (Detroit Electric's web site says the charge time is 4.3 hours@maxchargerate and 10.7 hours using the EU standard outlet.)

For the 999 owners, the car will be viewed as rather unique. The company said less than a thousand will be built—999 is the production target— and this limited production run starts in August at the company's production facility in Michigan. The cars will be sold worldwide.

The price of the SP:01 will start at $135,000. The price could vary according to specs and local taxes. Each car will carry a three-year, 30,000-mile warranty. There will be an optional extension for the battery to five years and 50,000 miles.

The company took the wraps off its SP:01 at Detroit Electric's new headquarters in Detroit.

Further details provided by the company include: rear-wheel-drive; carbon fiber bodywork; a length of 3880mm; width of 1751mm; height of 1117mm; wheelbase of 2300mm; and weight of 1070kg.

Inside, the SP:01 has a "SAMI" (Smartphone Application Managed Infotainment) system to access functions, including music player, satellite navigation, interior lighting adjust and information about the car's system, e.g., battery charge and recharge.

Detroit Electric's design has been described outside the company as "Lotus-based." The company's drew Albert Lam, who served as the chief executive of Lotus Engineering, and he was named CEO of Detroit Electric in 2008. As the company tells it, the "Detroit Electric story was recharged, rebooted and re-launched" by Lam.

Interestingly, the research engineers are describing SP:01 as a "mobile energy unit" as well as a car, as the user can harness its stored battery energy to power not just the car. "SP:01 is equipped with bi-directional charge and discharge capability, allowing it to release its stored electrical energy to power a home."

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