The EC7-EV model has a claimed range of 165 km per charge, with options about 258 km per charge.
Geely Automobile Group and the recently revived Detroit Electric brand will develop electric vehicles and electric drive systems for sale in China. The first EV sold will be under Geely’s Emgrand nameplate starting in Q1 of 2014, the companies claimed.
After three years of feasibility studies, Geely’s best-selling Emgrand EC7 compact car was designated as the donor platform.
The prototype EC7-EV, first shown at Shanghai earlier in April, is co-branded with a ‘Detroit Electric – Technology.’ The EC7-EV will be sold to business users and public-sector organizations, and the two companies are forecasting sales of around 3,000 units during the first 12 months, growing to as many as 30,000 in three years’ time.
A joint development and engineering team will explore all powertrain aspects, including the electric motor, vehicle management system, a thermo-managed battery pack, battery management system and a twin-speed transmission. The partnership also extends to a joint venture company to manufacture the critical EV powertrain components and associated parts at a site close to Geely’s headquarters in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province. Geely operates six car assembly and powertrain manufacturing plants in China.
The new EC7-EV model has a claimed will have a driving range of 165 km per charge, and with long-range options about 258 km per charge. The press release promises continue with acceleration of 0-100 km/h under eight seconds and a top speed exceeding 200 km/h.
Refined aesthetics are in the eye of the beholder.
“This is a very significant step in the development of the Detroit Electric business and is testimony to our innovative technology and engineering capabilities,” comments Albert Lam, Chairman and Group CEO of Detroit Electric.
The brand was revived in 2008 by Lam, former Group CEO of the Lotus Engineering Group and Executive Director of Lotus Cars of England, with a vision to produce an electric vehicle that integrates refined aesthetics, innovative technology, superior handling and performance.
Earlier this month Detroit Electric unveiled what it says will be its first production vehicle, the SP:01 with a claimed 249 km/h top speed and 0-100km/h acceleration in a 3.7 seconds.
Down this EV sports car road Fisker has previously traveled, and is now on the verge of bankruptcy after missing a loan payment to the Department of Energy earlier this week.
