Electric roadster charges in

A new electric sports car has just gone on sale - and it's nearly a third cheaper than its rival

Auto Express Car Reviews

Spyder can hit 100mph and manages 150 miles on a single charge

09th June 2007

Priced from £35,400, the Electrum Spyder isn't quite as quick as the Tesla Roadster, though, with 0-60mph taking seven seconds. The top speed is restricted to 100mph.

Made by US company Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV), the newcomer uses a nickel zinc battery that can be charged up at home overnight. Driveable range is up to 150 miles. However, the power cell can be upgraded to a lithium ion unit, which almost doubles the distance the car can travel between charges.

The Electrum Spyder is 4.34 metres long - exactly the same as a Ford Focus hatch - and tips the scales at 1,315kg. It's practical, too, with 450 litres of luggage space. The bodyshell is a fibreglass composite on a steel chassis, and standard equipment includes a removable hard-top, all-round disc brakes, air-con, alloy wheels and electric windows. A touchscreen navigation system with radio, CD and DVD player is on the options list. The Spyder is on sale now for ,990 (£35,400) via the www.universalelectricvehicle.com website, while a three-wheeler called the COM-V3 is also available.