First production Detroit SP:01 EV rolls off assembly line
30 October 2015
The first production Detroit Electric SP:01 (earlier post) 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 fiber body with an aluminum chassis. Featuring a 285 hp / 210 kW 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.
The car runs 0-60mph in 3.7 seconds (0-100km/h in 3.9 seconds) with a top speed of 155 mph (249 km/h).
The battery in the SP:01 has been integrated into the chassis as a stressed member, adding stiffness to enhance handling and safety. Energy density of the pack is 140Wh/kg, benefitting range while keeping overall vehicle weight low.
Every Detroit Electric comes with built-in bi-directional charge and discharge capability. Made possible through the patented Detroit Electric home charging and power back-up unit – named ‘360-Powerback’ – the unit 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.
The SP:01 comes equipped with an app-based system called SAMI (Smartphone Application Managed Infotainment), which utilizes Android technology and is fully compatible with Android Auto, providing safe access to a host of apps and internet functionality. SAMI allows users to search for nearby roadside charge points and then pre-book charging time, as well as review billing and credit information relating to their charge-point use.
When away from the SP:01, owners can use SAMI as a remote control unit via GSM, enabling them to locate the vehicle, turn on the climate control system and check the charge status. When in the car, the SAMI-enabled smartphone is installed in the centre console and becomes the interface for a wide range of functions, including music player, satellite navigation, regenerative braking adjustment, interior lighting and vehicle systems status – such as the level of battery charge, range to recharge and other telemetry.
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.
Congratulations to the Detroit Electric team. That's a big milestone. Interesting that there was no mention of North American distribution.
Posted by: electric-car-insider.com | 30 October 2015 at 07:34 AM
I wish them well however, I worry about the low density battery pack. At 140 kWh/Kg, that means it will take a large battery to satisfy the needs of the 210 kw motor. Wonder how's the range?
Especially when you compare the Leaf's 80 Kw motor and 24 kw battery, with about the same energy density, fails badly for a decent range spec.
Posted by: Lad | 30 October 2015 at 12:33 PM
Lad, you're showing scientific illiteracy. The energy density is 140 Wh/kg, which has nothing to do with the power density.
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 30 October 2015 at 09:47 PM