It seems hardly a week passes by without a new all-electric car making its debut. This week it’s the turn of the Dendrobium D-1. Now that is a name that does not roll off the tongue easily. If you’re wondering, Dendrobium is an orchid.

A complete newcomer

The Dendrobium D-1 is the handiwork of a new British firm called Dendrobium Automotive Limited. The hypercar was inspired by nature and rooted in technology, according to its creators. The D-1 was developed in the UK in collaboration with Williams Advanced Engineering of Formula 1 fame.

The dramatic-looking shape was crafted using lightweight aluminium and carbon-fibre. The company says that it is a truly distinctive machine that looks like no other hypercar in the world and we’re inclined to agree.

High-tech

Dendrobium is targeting a mass of 1 750 kg. To help achieve this goal the D-1 is based on a carbon-fibre tub dubbed Protocell. This monocoque has been engineered with future Dendrobium e-performance cars in mind. D-1 has boasts a unique door-opening action referred to as Bio-Aerial Locomotion similar to unfurling action of the plant from which it takes its name.

Click here to read up on the Rimac C_two, another all-electric hypercar.

The company confirms that the first production examples of the all-electric Dendrobium D-1 will have over 1 300 kW. More technical info on the model and developments at Dendrobium Automotive will be announced in the coming weeks.

Dendrobium says the D-1’s cabin places the driver at the centre of attention. Black carbon-fibre is contrasted by red sports seat for the driver, while the passenger seat is black. Stitching and motifs are inspired by human muscle fibres.

Future watch

The Dendrobium design team has supposedly had conceptual sketches of an electric hypercar on the drawing boards since the mid-1990s. The firm always knew that it would build an electric hypercar, but technology did not match its aspirations. As electric technology has advanced, Dendrobium has been able to revisit its vision and now launches its revolutionary e-mobility strategy.

In their own words

Commenting on the UK public debut of the Dendrobium D-1 hypercar, Chairman and CEO of Dendrobium Automotive, Nigel Gordon-Stewart said, “After an extensive career in the supercar industry, I can honestly say that Dendrobium Automotive is one of the most exciting and future-focused businesses I’ve ever been involved with. Using the very latest technology, we are developing what will be the most impressive all-electric hypercar. We are designing our own in-house all-electric powertrain and we plan to use our own power storage cells moving to solid state as and when the technology is reliable and financially viable.”