Detroit Electric in talks with Proton to build electric cars

Posted Tue Sep 2 2008 7:50 AM by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

Historic electric car brand Detroit Electric confirmed back in February that it plans to launch a range of all-electric vehicles for sale in both Europe and North America by the end of next year. The company secured new funding for its project late last month and today it has announced that talks are underway with several carmakers around the globe to secure a new production base for some of its upcoming models.

Detroit Electric CEO Albert Lam has confirmed that talks are taking place with carmakers in Germany and the U.S., as well as Malaysia’s Proton. The Malaysian government is backing the project and is keen to start building electric cars as part of its own initiative to tackle rising fuel prices and the search for green alternative transportation.

"The Malaysian Government is taking proactive measures to provide efficient and reliable alternative transportation to the people. Detroit Electric is working closely with them and we hope to provide a sustainable solution," Lam revealed.

Engineers at the company’s headquarters in the Netherlands, meanwhile, have developed a durable and affordable electric powertrain and are currently testing it in a Lotus Elise (pictured) chassis, as well as a Daihatsu Cuore and Volkswagen Golf. A Lotus platform was also used for the all-electric Tesla Roadster but the original design was heavily modified by the American company.

The company is making some fairly ambitious claims about its new models. The first production model is expected to cost around $24,000, and its lithium-ion battery will have a life span of 120,000mi. Charging will take about eight hours and the driving range will be about 320km. Detroit Electric are targeting about 30,000 vehicles worldwide within the first year, ramping up to 270,000 vehicles in the third year, according to a report in the Detroit Free Press.

Detroit Electric was an early 20th Century electric car brand launched by the Anderson Electric Car Company over 100 years ago. In its heyday, Detroit Electric was an American icon and the cars were very popular with customers like Thomas Edison, Charles Proteus Steinmetz and Henry Ford’s wife Clara. The newly revived company also plans to build a special edition electric vehicle based on the original Detroit Electric car as a tribute for the new name of the joint venture.

Reader Comments

Tue Sep 2 2008 8:41 AM
james says

just want to add

http://paultan.org/archives/2008/09/02/driven-detroit-electrics-electric-lotus-elise/

Detroit electric work with malaysia Proton to produce electric version of
Proton Persona and proton savvy under the detroit electric badge..
its cheaper than volt about 24k compared to volt 40k and the range is 320km compare to volt around 80km...and they plan to launch it late next year
Tue Sep 2 2008 9:37 AM
Gus says

Yes, but the Volt van go much further once the batteries run out.
You can't compare pure electric with a Hybrid of any type, especially until batteries can be charged as quickly as a car can be fueled (or close to it).
Tue Sep 2 2008 10:21 AM
Laz says

A 200 mile range on a charge should more than be enough for your daily commute to work and the grocery store. I live in Arizona and have sun over 300 days a year and would wish more EV would have solar panels on the roof as Toyota is doing with the new Pruis.
Tue Sep 2 2008 8:15 PM
Gus says

200 miles is plenty, for a second vehicle.
As long as you have another for the longer trips (or don't mind renting one, or flying and renting, all of which are viable options) then you can have an electric as your only car.
The savings an electric provides (depending on driving patterns) could easily put enough money in your pocket to rent a car every now and then for longer excursions...

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