The 'first' fastest two-seat pure-electric sports car

The first production Detroit Electric SP:01, the lightest and fastest two-seat pure-electric sports car in the world, has rolled off the line at the company’s Leamington Spa, UK manufacturing facility.
The new SP:01 is destined for one of Detroit Electric’s export markets to be delivered to the EV company’s first customer.

The lightweight SP:01, which goes on sale in Asia and Europe over the coming weeks, combines a carbon fibre body with an aluminium chassis.

It has a class-leading power to weight ratio and promises blistering acceleration, reaching 60 mile/h from standstill in just 3.7s (0-100km/h in 3.9s) and sprinting to a top speed of 155 mile/h (249km/h).

Featuring a 285HP / 210kW electric motor, the car is fitted with a single-speed automatic transmission as standard, with the option of twin-speed automatic or 6-speed manual transmissions.

Albert Lam, chairman and group chief executive officer of Detroit Electric commented: “Our first customer is sure to appreciate the unique experience of driving the SP:01 as we’ve worked hard to develop technologies that ensure it is one of the most rewarding pure electric sports cars to drive.”

“Seeing our vision realised is hugely satisfying and we can now focus on fulfilling a growing bank of orders. As our production process builds momentum, we look forward to providing this unique electric sports car to our customers all over the world,” he added.

The battery in the SP:01 has been integrated into the chassis as a stressed member, adding stiffness to enhance handling and safety. The battery is the most energy-dense automotive battery pack in the world, offering over 140Wh/kg, benefitting range while keeping overall vehicle weight low.

According to Detroit Electric, the Lithium Polymer battery has 520N power cells offering a capacity of 37kWh. The dry weight of the battery without coolant is put at 360kg. Detroit Electric also claims it builds its own batteries at its Leamington Spa base. And it also claims the battery can be "rebuilt" if required.

A spokesperson said: "It is rare that it will need to be completely replaced, so we do not have a cost for battery replacement at this time." 

The car has built-in bi-directional charge and discharge capability made possible through the patented Detroit Electric’s home charging and power back-up unit – named ‘360-Powerback’ – which turns the vehicle into a power source for both the grid and the home.

An advanced Battery Management System (BMS) gathers data about the car’s battery health and on-board telematics communicate it directly to the factory.

Detroit Electric has established distributors throughout Europe and Asia extending from the North (Iceland and Norway) and the East (Azerbaijan, South Korea, China and Hong Kong) to the South (South Africa), with additional countries due to join the growing global network over the coming months.  Retail prices for the SP:01 in Europe and Asia will be announced shortly.