Fisker Karma

Development of electric and electric/gasoline powered cars is increasing rapidly. Nearly all the manufacturers are planning production of a number of models. Fisker Automotive, Inc. is a manufacturer that will bring out a plus-in hybrid the Fisker Karma as their first model.

These technologies are gaining popularity since battery manufacturers have been in race to improve the battery life. Improving the battery life extends the driving range of the vehicle.

Fisker has signed a deal with Advanced Lithium Power (ALP) to provide batteries for the Fisker deal that was just announced. The battery life question has been overcome, since the Tesla Roadster won the Monte Carlo Rally For Alternative Energy Vehicles.

FiskerAutomotive is a joint venture between Quantum Technologies (U.S. based manufacturer and Fisker Coachbuild LLC (a Finland auto assembler).

The Karma is anticipated to have a 50 mile (80km) all-electric range, then a gasoline engine powers the electric motors up to 250 additional miles. The gasoline engine is a 2.0 liter turbocharged, direct injected motor manufactured by GM.

The Karma is powered by Q-drive technology, which is a series hybrid where the engine is mated with a generator to provide an electrical connection to the electric motors. Electric motors are what propel the vehicle, the engine recharges the batteries.The Karma has a feature that one day may become standard on electric cars. It has a factory option of a solar power roof that can assist recharging the lithium batteries and the climate control system.Also, Fisker will offer a set of solar panels for the garage/house which may charge the Karma entirely off the grid. Fisker automotive has not released information on the Karma fuel economy.

Pricing has been announced....the base version will cost $87,900 USD plus options, meanwhile an upgraded version EcoSport will be $95,000 and the top of the line EcoChic will cost $104,000.

SUMMARY:

This is one beautiful green machine! The first production units will arrive this fall.

The big news is how a relatively small company can develop a state of the art automobile from scratch with $100 million in start up capital! GM was unable to do the same thing with the EV1 for over $1 billion dollars.

Basically, they have contracted with existing automobile parts manufacturers for the parts necessary to build the car.....substantially cutting their cash requirements for designing parts, buying manufacturing equipment and building plants etc.