When it comes to the EV race, China is beating the USA hands down. It was the first to launch an EV pickup, and now a Chinese company is set to launch the first affordable EV sports car. The Alpine A110 E-ternite doesn't count because it's a concept, and the Tesla Roadster remains a $250,000 fanboy pipe dream.

The name of the company appears to have been lost in translation. According to the Chinese press, the small startup behind the project is Xiaoxíng Paoche, which translates to Small Sports Car or SSC for short. There's no connection to the US-made SSC Tuatara, as SSC does not appear to be the official name of the manufacturer. There's little information available about the car, but since it's marketed as a "national sports car," there's a good chance it's partly owned by the State.

The model is called the SC-01, and it's roughly the same size as a Porsche Cayman but electric.

Now since this is a Chinese company, we must take all claims with a grain of salt. But we also have to take China's EV dominance into account. Contemporary Amperex Technology (better known as CATL) is the biggest supplier of battery technology globally and is consistently at the forefront of new battery technology. As much as we like to make fun of stupid cars like the knock-off Toyota Tundra, the Chinese car market is no laughing stock.

Enter the SC-01, which will launch with a claimed curb weight of 2,866 pounds. To put that in perspective, the Alpine A110 EV concept weighs 3,038 lbs, which is a remarkable achievement. The Alpine is two pounds lighter than a Porsche 718 Cayman and the most lightweight EV we've come across so far.

The SC-01 will have a dual-motor setup producing a combined power output of 430 horsepower. The claimed range is even more astounding, set at 310 miles.

The claimed 0-62 mph time is 3.9 seconds, which is not that fast. Considering the low weight, all-wheel-drive, and available horsepower, we'd expect something in the two-second bracket. That seems to be the new standard now that two full-size luxury sedans claim to hit 60 mph in less than two seconds. If they can do it, why can't a lightweight EV sports car?

Like the Alpine concept, the SC-01 doesn't use the traditional EV skateboard design. Instead, the battery is rear mid-mounted behind the seats, which allows the driver and passenger to sit lower in the car.

The layout also allows the manufacturer to distribute weight more traditionally, which should translate to a more pragmatic mid-mounted driving experience. Thanks to the battery pack's location, the SC-01 center of gravity will still be remarkably low, retaining one of the critical elements of the EV driving experience.

While we're not entirely convinced about all the claims, we do like SSC's approach to interior design, though no official images are available. The designers chose to remove all screens and only use physical buttons. There aren't various configurations available, which helps keep production costs down. What you see is what you get, and it appears you only get to select the exterior color and alloy design.

The boldest claim is the price, which is rumored to be roughly $40,000. Production will start late in 2023, but it's unlikely it will be sold in the USA. Not just because it would be a hard sell, but the SC-01's minimalist interior fails to meet the essential safety requirements (a reverse camera) needed to sell a car in the USA.