Greentech Media

Pastor hopes the success of the Fetish will trickle down into the company's next models, which he said would range from other speedy, sporty cars to "silly cars" and practical cars for city use.

Of course, electric cars have had only limited success so far. Analysts say they still are too expensive for the mass market, can't drive far enough on a single charge and take hours to recharge.

"Most people are looking at electric cars as an alternative to a second car they have in the household; not necessarily as an only vehicle," said Thilo Koslowski, lead automotive analyst for Gartner. To change that, he said, electric cars need to focus on performance and range and make sure they can compete with the utility and space of other vehicles.

Proponents say most commutes are less than 40 miles, which some electric cars already can exceed in one charge.

Pastor said the key to success is winning over the minds of consumers, and the mentality is changing.

"We have requests for our cars because the economical model the car manufacturers have been using for decades is dead," he said. "It's the end of an era today, with fewer and fewer car manufacturers running for more and more volume and, in the end, not making any money."

Pastor, who originally made his money in real estate and who said he has put about €15 million into Venturi so far, said he expects this company will make him "rich a second time," with this company, and within five years.