Detroit Electric creates a sports car

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Detroit Electric sports car promises to exhilarate.

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Americans can now look forward to another start-up in the electric car business - and its first squeaky-clean product promises to be something of a road menace.

Based in Detroit and reviving a historic brand name that's been absent for over 70 years, Detroit Electric will be launching a two-seat electric sports car next month. The company also promises that a diverse family of high-performance electric vehicles is set to follow, two of them by the end of next year.

Full details about the car will be revealed at its official world debut at the Shanghai Motor Show on 20 April. All they're saying for now is that the car is: "Certain to quicken pulses thanks to its bold styling, outstanding performance, exhilarating handling characteristics and impressive range."

The reveal will also coincide with the announcement of a major partnership with a global carmaker.

The cars will be built in Michigan from August this year, at a factory with an annual capacity of 2500 vehicles.

THE EARLY YEARS

An early Detroit Electric car.

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While not many people know about the original Detroit Electric vehicle brand, it's worth noting that it built more electric vehicles than any other company back in the 20th century, with notable customers including Thomas Edison, John D Rockerfeller Jr and the wife of Henry Ford, Clara.

The brand existed between 1907 and 1939, before the increased sophistication and lower cost of internal combustion engines spelled the death knell for electric vehicles.

The vehicles had a top speed of just 40km/h, and a claimed range of 129km between charges.