autoevolution
 

Detroit Electric Teases 500-Miles EVs Coming in Three Years Tops

Detroit Electric can serve as a wonderful example of what globalization is all about: it's an old American brand that is now based in the United Kingdom and benefits from Chinese funding.
Detroit Electric teaser 1 photo
Photo: Detroit Electric
For years, it has been struggling to bring the SP:01 to market: an electric sports car based on a Lotus Elise chassis (sounds familiar?). Unlike the Tesla Roadster, though, Detroit Electric's model features a more heavily modified carbon fiber body which sets it apart from the well-known British sports car.

With a curb weight of just 2,354 lb (1,068 kg), the SP:01 stayed true to the Lotus ethos of lightweight vehicles, the main culprit for that being the rather small 37 kWh battery pack. The downside, of course, is that the SP:01 can only travel for 180 miles (290 km) on one charge, and that under the NEDC. Real world range would then be even lower.

Unfortunately, the company didn't manage to build the model in large enough numbers to kick start a success story similar to that of Tesla. Now, though, Detroit Electric has access to $1.8 billion following a joint venture with China's Far East Smarter Energy Group, so things will soon get underway.

Anticipating what all that money is going to buy, the company has presented its intentions over the next three years, and they include three new vehicles. The first will come as soon as next year, and judging by the teaser image available (and assuming they're in chronological order), it will be a sports car.

With the SP:01 development all but complete, it would make sense for Detroit Electric to start with it. The second one appears to be a sedan/crossover mix in the vein of the Fahrenheit FF91, or it could just be a regular sedan with a coupe silhouette.

Finally, three years from now, Detroit Electric's range will receive an electric SUV as well, mimicking Tesla's trajectory with scary accuracy. The plan is to have production capabilities in both the UK and China, with the U.S. market also under close watch.

To be competitive, though, Detroit Electric would have to revise the specs on the SP:01 - a car developed during the early 2010s when the competition wasn't that fierce. According to the company, it wants to offer ranges of anything between 300 and 500 miles (480 and 805 km) which, even under the New European Driving Cycle would still be nothing short of revolutionary. However, with nothing to show for than a dark image with white outlines and a failed EV, you'd be forgiven to call it vaporware for now.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Vlad Mitrache
Vlad Mitrache profile photo

"Boy meets car, boy loves car, boy gets journalism degree and starts job writing and editing at a car magazine" - 5/5. (Vlad Mitrache if he was a movie)
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories