Detroit Electric finalizes SP:01 design, but ‘world’s fastest electric’ it isn’t

By Andrew Hard October 28, 2014

Detroit Electric SP:01 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

If there’s one thing that’s consistent about the Detroit Electric SP:01, it’s inconsistency.

Once a prominent electric carmaker in the early 1900s, Detroit Electric fizzled out in 1939 after the stock market crash of 1929 and the company’s resulting bankruptcy eventually took their toll.

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The brand was revived in 2008, with the buzz garnering, American-made SP:01 leading the charge. Only now the car will be made in the U.K.

The Lotus-sourced electric has also been billed “the world’s fastest production electric vehicle,” but it just isn’t. The 286-horsepower SP:01 and 691-hp Tesla P85D share a 155-mph top speed, but the Tesla’s 3.2-second 0 to 60 mph time is .5 seconds quicker than the SP’s.

Additionally, Detroit Electric’s creation was originally designed to be a roadster, and now we’ve learned it will be a fastback coupe.

But hiccups aren’t intrinsically bad. Each car travels a long path before it ever sees the road, and some are simply more tumultuous than others. As far as the SP:01 goes, it might just be worth the trouble.

Related: Detroit Electric’s SP:01 shows signs of life

We reported in July that Detroit Electric was nearly done testing the sports car, and this week the automaker released the first official photo of the vehicle’s final design.

The biggest revelation, as we alluded to earlier, is that the car now employs an aerodynamic fastback design instead of a roadster layout. Gone are the flying buttresses of the preproduction car, although the Elise-style taillights remain.

The finalized front fascia hasn’t been officially released, but don’t expect a huge deviation from the Lotus Evora-like face showcased in the car’s design photos. As far as we can tell, the SP:01 will be a very pretty car, and much lighter than the Tesla as well.

We’re still a ways off from the Detroit Electric’s 2015 on-sale date, so stay tuned for more details. If this car has taught us anything thus far, it’s to expect the unexpected.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…

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Stellantis’ 2027 Dodge Charger Daytona might feature solid-state battery tech

Front three quarter view of the 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona sedan.

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Cars

Costco partners with Electric Era to bring back EV charging in the U.S.

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Costco, known for its discount gas stations, has left EV drivers in need of juicing up out in the cold for the past 12 years. But that seems about to change now that the big-box retailer is putting its brand name on a DC fast-charging station in Ridgefield, Washington.
After being one of the early pioneers of EV charging in the 1990s, Costco abandoned the offering in 2012 in the U.S.
While opening just one station may seem like a timid move, the speed at which the station was installed -- just seven weeks -- could indicate big plans going forward.
Besides lightening-speed installation, Electric Era, the Seattle-based company making and installing the charging station, promises to offer “hyper-reliable, battery-backed fast charging technology in grid-constrained locations.”
Its stalls can deliver up to 200 kilowatts and come with built-in battery storage, allowing for lower electricity rates and the ability to remain operational even when power grids go down.
If that sounds like it could very well rival Tesla’s SuperCharger network, it’s no coincidence: Quincy Lee, its CEO, is a former SpaceX engineer.
Costco also seems confident enough in the company to have put its brand name on the EV-charging station. Last year, the wholesaler did open a pilot station in Denver, this time partnering with Electrify America, the largest charging network in the U.S. However, Costco did not put its brand name on it.
In an interview with Green Car Reports, Electric Era said it was still in talks with Costco about the opening of new locations. Last year, Costco said it was planning to install fast chargers at 20 locations, without providing further details. It has maintained EV-charging operations in Canada, the UK, Spain, and South Korea.
Meanwhile, the wholesaler’s U.S. EV-charging plans might very well resemble those of rival Walmart, which last year announced it was building its own EV fast-charging network in addition to the arrangements it already had with Electrify America.

Cars

The UK’s Wayve brings its AI automated driving software to U.S. shores

wayve ai automated driving us driver assist2 1920x1152 1

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