IT was nearly a year ago that former McLaren designer Jim Dowle – whose company name is his initials JJAD – first announced details of his eye-catching P1 sports car.

The response was universally positive and the subsequent progress has been both rapid and dramatic – in particular, a switch to electric power means the prototype tagged P1-E is destined to be one of the world’s first purpose-built electric sports cars.

With stunning acceleration (0-60mph in 2.9sec), practical range (230 miles), low weight (1,055kg) and a price around £55,000, this gullwing-doored, pocket rocket will be the electric car enthusiasts really will want to own.

Having worked on such landmark projects as the McLaren F1, Surrey-based Dowle knows what it takes to make a drivers’ car. The P1-E’s twin electric motors and attendant lithium-ion batteries are placed for optimum weight distribution and low centre of gravity, while the long wishbones front and rear ensure ideal suspension geometry. Four-wheel drive endows the car with maximum traction.

It also allows regenerative braking on each wheel, the energy gained from tops up the batteries.

Dowle said: “We decided it was time to create an affordable electric sports car that combined the advantages of conventionally-engined machines with those of electric ones, without the disadvantages of either – in short, a drivers’ car for the 21st century.

“Most of the programme’s key partnerships are now in place, though we’d still welcome approaches from any companies interested in investing in our mould-breaking performance car.” Log on to jjad.co.uk.