The Low Down On Green Living
November 18th, 2008
Electric Car Start-Up, Fisker, Opens Huge Center in Michigan
Stumble it!
Written by Nick Chambers, courtesy of Gas2.org
At least one of the highly touted alternative car start-ups is expanding in the face of an economic meltdown.
Fisker Automotive announced (PDF) the opening of a 34,000 square foot Engineering and Development Center in Pontiac, Michigan, that will house up to 200 engineers and designers in support of Fisker’s much anticipated plug-in hybrid car, the four-door Fisker Karma.
Amid news of Tesla Motors’ (the other much-ballyhooed electric car start-up) recent “shrinkage,” Fisker seems to be flaunting its success. As the press release makes sure to point out, “The opening of [their new] facility comes on the heels of Fisker Automotive’s recent announcement that it prevailed in a lawsuit brought against the company by Tesla Motors.”
The bad blood between Tesla and Fisker goes back a ways. In April, Tesla sued Fisker Automotive claiming that Henrik Fisker took on an $875,000 design contract with Tesla in order to access confidential design information. Less than a year after his contract ended, Fisker launched his own company and announced the Karma. In June, Fisker won the suit in binding arbitration.
So it seems that, for now, Fisker is on a roll, while Tesla is starting to lose its steam. Last September, Fisker announced that they had raised $65 million dollars in a large round of funding while, just a month later, Tesla was forced to lay off employees and scale back operations due to inadequate funding.
Fisker is set to release the Karma at the end of next year. Allegedly, the Karma has a 50 mile all-electric range and more than 350 miles of total range. Fisker claims that the Karma “will have the potential for a fuel economy of over 100 miles per gallon on extended drives.” The car is expected to cost around $80,000 — which is $29,000 less than Tesla’s Roadster — and Fisker plans on selling 15,000 of them annually by 2011.
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Popularity: 1% [?]
Comments
Sheanlon Gran
November 18th, 2008 at 9:47 am
This is the first car that I’ve seen that will appeal to the American drivers’ sense of style AND give them good fuel economy. Props to Fisker on this new development and to all the other major auto manufacturers… STEP IT UP A NOTCH WILL YA!
David Tannen
November 18th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Well when they get these cars down to about 30k a piece then maybe they will make a difference. Otherwise these cars are toys for rich kids.
nan
November 18th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
I agree with David - great looking car - would definitely appear to American buyers - great specs - but at that price - come on! selling 15,000 of them a year will not help.
Take that engineering and make it into something viable for the average American - and let that make a difference.
Brian
November 19th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Nice and pretty but most of the people interested in plug-in cars are not going to pay 80,000.00. This looks like it is more for the exotic car fans just like the Tesla.
I’ll have a tough time affording the Volt at 40G!
The plus is they are looking at the sports cars as well. Now lets hear about Semi’s!!!
ZAP Alias
November 20th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Fast, affordable, long range, sporty and futuristic, the Alias will be hitting the market as early as next year!
Performance
• 0 – 60 mph : 7.7 seconds
• Vmax: 100 mph
• EV range: 100+ miles (160.9 kilometer)
• Vehicle curb mass: 1612.6 lbs (733 kg)
Will
December 8th, 2008 at 6:10 am
Great looking car. We need more electric vehicle on the street. We can’t depend on foreign oil forever. Too bad Tesla is hitting a bump for the moment. The Tesla Roadster is a dream electric vehicle.
Jessica Jensen
December 8th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Don’t give up on Tesla yet– we know several people in LA who are getting them this year…they are shipping. And they say they will have great capacity next year. Fingers crossed!
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