Currently reading: Detroit Electric SP:01 sports car to launch following £1.5 billion deal
Electric performance model will finally make production thanks to investment from Far East Smarter Energy Group of China

The Detroit Electric SP:01 finally looks on course to make production thanks to a new £1.5 billion deal with the Far East Smarter Energy Group of China.

Production of the Lotus Elise-based electric sports car will begin following an initial investment of £300 million. The brand will then use further investment to increase its range, with plans for an electric SUV that’ll arrive in 2018 and another model two years later.

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Albert Lam, chairman and CEO of Detroit Electric, said: “We have been working exceptionally hard over a long period to establish this joint venture and to secure funding for our ambitious new electric vehicle programme.

“I am delighted to be able to announce this new joint venture which represents a significant boost to vehicle manufacturing and the EV industry in Europe and an important new step towards bringing our family of EVs to market.”

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Detroit Electric aims to be selling 100,000 electric vehicles worldwide by 2020. To accommodate for this output, the company wants to expand its 400-strong team and site in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. The SP:01 will be the first car to be built there and is expected to trigger the hiring of 120 new engineers and 100 manufacturing workers.

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The model uses lithium ion battery packs that, in pre-production form, provide the car with a range of 180 miles. Power output from the electric motor is rated at 281bhp with 166lb ft of torque. It takes four hours to fully charge the batteries.

When the car was first shown, the SP:01 was claimed to have a top speed of 155mph and a 0-60mph sprint time of 3.9sec. It was due to be priced at £100,500, although the final price is yet to be confirmed.

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ah1335 10 March 2017

Manual?

Is it just me or does that cabin photo look like it has a manual gearbox...
voyager12 10 March 2017

How come...

that an unknown little EV maker gets the money... and that legendary Lotus isn't? With 1.5 billion it could have finally developed a new Elise, plus a sporty SUV along the lines of the E-Pace.
johnfaganwilliams 10 March 2017

I hope they succeed

But won't be committing my pension money to this one. 100,000 vehicles in three years time? Nope, can't see that. 100 vehicles maybe. Hope I'm wrong.