Tell me more about Fisker Automotive, Inc.Fisker Automotive is an American car company, founded in 2007, committed to producing electric vehicles with extended range (EVerTM) that deliver uncompromised responsible luxury. The company is designing and developing the world’s first line of premium plug-in electric hybrid vehicles representing the company’s firm belief that environmentally responsible cars need not sacrifice passion, style, or performance. Fisker Automotive is a global company that is redefining luxury for the modern sports car buyer. For more information on the brand and Fisker’s first car, the Karma sedan, please go to http://www.fiskerautomotive.com. What is EVer?EVer (Electric Vehicle with extended range) is Fisker’s proprietary plug-in hybrid electric powertrain. The Ever powertrain consists of an efficient gasoline engine, an electric generator, a Lithium-ion battery pack, and two electric motors at the rear wheels. The Karma sedan allows the driver to select between two driving modes: Stealth mode for relaxed and efficient all-electric driving and Sport mode to access the vehicle’s full power. Stealth mode provides efficient emission-free all-electric operation for a range of up to 50 miles. For Stealth mode travel beyond the battery range, the gasoline-powered generator automatically provides power for another 200 miles (with additional range available by simply filling up at any ordinary gas station). Sport mode combines power from both the gasoline-powered generator and the battery to give the driver more aggressive acceleration and higher top speed. The EVer powertrain on the Karma sedan uses dual electric motors to drive the wheels – the gasoline engine never directly drives the wheels. What is the charge time for the Karma battery?For the Karma sedan, charging a fully depleted battery requires approximately six hours using a 220V/40A outlet (standard in Europe and widely available in homes in the U.S. for electrical appliances) or approximately 14 hours using a standard U.S. household 110V outlet. The Karma comes with a portable Travel Charger (standard 110V in U.S. and 220V in Europe). In the U.S., Fisker offers a Wall-Mounted Charging Station (220V, 3.3kW). How do the EPA ratings compare against Fisker Automotive’s findings?"We are delighted to have EPA certification and fuel economy ratings that verify the Karma’s remarkable green credentials." said Henrik Fisker, CEO and co-founder of Fisker Automotive. "As with all electric vehicles, range varies greatly on the conditions of the road and how you drive the car. We firmly believe that most owners will get up to 50 miles of driving range on a single charge and will use our electric-only mode most of the time they drive the car, thereby running on zero emissions. Overall, we are very pleased with the results of EPA’s tests. The Karma is a groundbreaking product with a unique powertrain." Click here to learn more about the Fisker Karma’s All Electric Range and EPA ratings. What type of warranty and service plan will you provide for the first car and future models?We will offer consumers a 50 month/50,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty program in the U.S and a 48 month/100,000 kilometer warranty program for EU. Where is Fisker Automotive’s U.S. plant located?After receiving the DoE loan, Fisker made it a priority to create U.S. jobs which led to the purchase its own assembly plant in Delaware where we plan to establish production of our second, higher volume line of vehicles (Project Nina). Are there other Fisker models?Currently there is one Fisker Model the Fisker Karma Sedan. We have exhibited planned future vehicles; a two door convertible known as the Fisker Sunset and most recently the new Fisker Surf builds on the success of the ground-breaking Karma by adding additional, flexible load-carrying capability, along with a spirited new attitude all its own. Click here to learn more about the Fisker Surf. |
Who can I contact if I have additional questions?If you have additional questions, please feel free to call our customer service team at 855-575-7577 or email them at info@fiskerautomotive.com. What is the Fisker Karma Sedan?The Karma sedan is the world’s first environmentally-responsible luxury car with a unique hybrid electric powertrain (EVer) developed by a highly-skilled team of engineers and designers in America. Where is the battery located?The battery is located in a tunnel that runs down the center line of the vehicle. This tunnel is a major part of the car’s structural rigidity and the placement contributes to a near perfect 50/50 weight distribution and low center of gravity. What is the EPA’s MPG energy equivalent for the Karma?The EPA – with its newly formulated methodology for rating electric vehicles - found that, when running in all-electric mode, the Karma sedan achieves the energy equivalent of 52 miles per gallon city/highway combined. The Karma sedan’s 52 MPGe is close to the Obama administration’s mandate of an industry average goal of 54.5 mpg by 2025, demonstrating that Fisker Automotive’s Electric Vehicle with extended range (EVer) powertrain technology clearly represents the future for the automotive industry. Click here to learn more about the Fisker Karma’s All Electric Range and EPA ratings. What is the purpose of the solar panel on the roof?In the Fisker Karma’s roof is an integrated, full-length solar panel. It is the world’s largest spherically (curved in multiple directions, like a sphere) curved automotive solar panel, providing Karma drivers up to 200 miles (321km) per year of completely emission- and cost-free driving. A dynamic splayed pattern was developed to improve efficiency by optimizing maximum sunlight angles. The unique solar roof also produces energy to help power the Karma’s interior cooling system. How will maintenance costs for the Karma compare to traditional vehicles and other hybrids?We anticipate powertrain maintenance costs to be lower since electric motors are simple and reliable and there will be very little load on the gasoline engine. There is also no transmission. Fisker has received funding from the DoE - where has the DoE funding been spent?Not a single dollar of the DoE loans has been, or will be, spent outside of America. All expenditures are reviewed by PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) on behalf of the DoE. For the Karma program, the DoE loan money was used solely in the U.S. to fund design, engineering, and integration work. |
Who designed the Karma Sedan?Henrik Fisker, who was previously the Design Director for Aston Martin and President and CEO of BMW’s Designworks USA. He was responsible for such cars as the BMW Z8, Aston Martin DB9 and V8 Vantage. What type of battery will you use?The Karma sedan utilizes a 20 kWh Lithium-ion battery that is based on Nano phosphate technology. What is the EPA’s all-electric range for the Karma?The Karma’s all-electric range was found to be 32 miles by the EPA under its test criteria. To put that figure in perspective, a Karma driver with a 40-mile commute who starts each day with a full battery charge will only need to visit the gas station about every 1,000 miles and would use just 9 gallons of gasoline per month. Independent European agency TUV’s performance tests, as well as Fisker’s own field tests, find that many Karma drivers will actually experience a longer all electric range under most every day driving conditions – up to 50 miles. Research also reveals that more than half of American’s have a daily commute of less than 32 miles, a comfortable distance for the Karma to run in electric-only mode from a single charge. Can you describe the Karma’s advanced aluminum space frame and how it is assembled?The Karma’s advanced extruded aluminum space frame is a proprietary design developed by Fisker Automotive engineers. It strikes a perfect balance between size and weight. It provides industry leading rigidity specifications that delivers a world class driving experience. The Fisker Karma’s space frame is assembled using 79 meters of precision MIG welds and 1,058 self-piercing rivets. Each technique is used independently only where necessary to ensure top quality and durability. What are some examples of U.S. companies manufacturing components of the Fisker Karma?More than 45% of the components of the Fisker Karma sedan are manufactured by approximately 40 suppliers located in the U.S. Some of our biggest suppliers in the U.S. include A123 Systems (Lithium-ion battery), General Motors Springhill Engine Plant (gasoline engine), Goodyear (tires) and TRW (regenerative braking system). Does Fisker Automotive have any political affiliations?There is no link between Fisker Automotive and any political party. We are politically neutral – our focus is on building luxury electric vehicles. What does the Fisker logo represent?An American company, the orange and blue represent a California sunset over the Pacific Ocean. The vertical bars represent the designer’s pen (Henrik Fisker) and the creator’s tools (Bernard Koehler). |
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Learn the answers to more FAQs by watching these videos: www.youtube.com/karmaowners > |
