Detroit Electric revealed its new SP:01 electric sports car (pictured) at Detroit's historic Fisher Building Wednesday the same place where the company's headquarters are located marking the rebirth of a marque that had been dormant since 1939. And while the first SP:01 cars won't even be built until August, the company is already looking to the future, promising two more vehicle launches before the end of 2014.
Surprisingly enough, the new electric cars won't be just some variants of the SP:01, but different vehicles altogether, the US company planning to introduce a sedan and a hatchback for "everyday practical usage".
Power is supplied by a 201-horsepower AC electric motor situated behind the driver. According to Detroit Electric, the car's two battery packs can be charged in 4.3 hours at 240 volts and 32 amps (or 8 hours at 13 amps) and give it a driving range of about 180 miles. Production of the SP:01 will be limited to 999 units and buyers can choose between a four-speed manual and optional two-speed automatic transmission.
In addition to private investors, Detroit Electric is apparently in talks with the U.S. government and the State of Michigan for funding sources. That could mean the company wants a piece of the alternative-fuel loans that help helped fund other startups like Tesla Motors and Fisker Automotive. Detroit Electric is currently developing a “full-scale” distribution network to sell the cars nationwide.
