Fisker Karma
Encyclopedia
The Fisker Karma is a plug-in hybrid luxury sports sedan
produced by Fisker Automotive
and manufactured at Valmet Automotive
in Finland. The United States Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) rated the Karma's combined city/highway fuel economy
at 52 mpgU.S. (22.1 km/L) equivalent (MPG-e)
in all-electric mode, and at 20 mpgU.S. (8.5 km/L) in gasoline-only mode. EPA's official all-electric range
is 32 mi (51.5 km).
After missing its initial late 2009 launch, and after the launch was re-scheduled several times, the first deliveries took place in the U.S. in late July 2011, and deliveries to retail customers began in November 2011. The Fisker Karma sells for for the basic model, and for the top model.
.
It is the first car from Fisker Automotive
, a new auto maker based in Anaheim, California, founded
on 5 September 2007.
Production began in July 2011, and the first two deliveries took place in the United States on July 26, 2011. In October 2011 the first Karma delivered in the UK was auctioned to benefit Pratham UK
and raised a bid of (around .
supplied by A123 Systems, or a 175 kW generator spun by an efficient, 2.2L gasoline engine. The engine is mated with a generator to provide an electrical connection to the motors and also recharge the batteries and as such the electric motors are the only mechanical driving force connected to the wheels. The proprietary Q-Drive hybrid drive train is supplied by Quantum Technologies, which operates in a joint venture with Fisker Coachbuild known as Fisker Automotive.
The Karma includes as standard a solar paneled roof manufactured by Asola Advanced and Automotive Solar Systems GmbH, a Quantum Technologies affiliate, not only to aid in the recharging of its Lithium-Ion batteries but also to aid the cabin climate control system. The solar roof is capable of generating a half kilowatt-hour a day and is estimated to provide up to 4 to- of additional range a week assuming continuously sunny days. Additionally, the car will offer a set of solar panels for the garage/house which may charge the Karma entirely 'off the grid'.
The Karma's two 201 bhp motors produce 1300 newton metres (958.8 ft·lbf) of torque, more than the Bugatti Veyron
at 1250 N·m (922 ft·lbf). The Karma features a 125 mi/h top speed and is capable of reaching 60 mph (96.6 km/h) from a standstill in 5.8 seconds.
The base model features an "eco-friendly interior", including salvaged lumber from fires or even from lake bottoms. Optional leather seating is available, but it will use much more of the cow hide than would customarily be found on luxury models—hides with scratches and other mars (which should not affect functionality) will be used.
(EPA) official all-electric range for the Fisker Karma is 32 mi (51.5 km) under the agency's five-cycle tests using varying driving conditions and climate controls. EPA's estimated energy consumption is 65 kWh per 100 miles (1462 kJ/km). The total range with a full tank of gasoline and a fully charged battery is 230 miles (370.1 km). EPA's official rating for combined city/highway fuel economy
in all-electric mode is 52 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent
(MPG-e) (4.5 L gasoline equivalent/100 km; 62 mpg-imp gasoline equivalent). The EPA rating in gasoline-only mode is 20 mpgU.S. (8.5 km/L). Regarding EPA's rating Henrik Fisker
, CEO and co-founder of Fisker Automotive commented that "...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."
The German Technical Inspection Association
(TUV) found through independent tests that the Fisker Karma has an all-electric range of 83 km (51.6 mi) in stealth mode. TUV found that in charge-sustaining sport mode the Karma achieves a fuel economy of 26 mpg (9.2 l/100km). The combined fuel economy was rated at 112 MPG-e (2.1 l/100km equivalent) and the emissions level is 51 g/km CO2.
reported that Fisker Automotive and Valmet Automotive
reached an early agreement to manufacture the cars in Uusikaupunki
, Finland
. The Valmet factory located there currently produces Porsche Boxster
and Cayman
models (until 2012), and has previously produced various Saab
models as well as some other cars. On November 13, 2008, the final assembly contract was signed by both parties.
In 2008 Fisker Automotive began accepting pre-order
s in the US, and Europe and initially scheduled sales of its Karma PHEV by the fourth quarter of 2009 in the US, and starting in 2010 in Europe.
In 2009 Henrik Fisker reported 1,300 orders for the Karma. Henrik Fisker showed the first production model Karma at the 2010 Paris Motor Show.
After re-scheduling the Karma launch to September 2010, and missing its target to build 70 to 100 test cars in 2010, production began in July 2011, and the two first deliveries took place in the United States during the same month. The Valmet plant
in Finland began production with five cars a week, and Fisker expects to raise production to 300 cars a week from November 2011. As of July 2011, Fisker claims it has received 3,000 pre-orders and that the plug-in hybrid is sold out until early 2012. Deliveries to retail customers began in November 2011. The first production batch of 39 units was allocated for dealerships as demonstration vehicles.
filed a lawsuit against Fisker Automotive, alleging that Henrik Fisker stole Tesla's Model S
hybrid technology and is using it to develop the Karma. Tesla's suit claimed that the design work done for the Model S sedan by Fisker Coachbuild
was substandard, and that Fisker Automotive diverted its best ideas to the Karma.
On 4 November 2008 CNET News reported that Tesla Motors would discontinue its suit after an interim ruling in favor of Fisker et al. A news release on the Fisker Automotive website stated that Tesla was ordered to pay $1,144,285 in costs.
,
the world's first plug-in hybrid convertible, with a folding hardtop
.
or a hatchback
. Sales of the four-door plug-in hybrid, which has the same range as the Karma, are scheduled to begin in 2013. The Surf's entire powertrain, chassis, and interior are identical to the Karma sedan, with the only major cabin change being the additional room in back for a couple of adults, and expandable room in the back is up from 7.1 cu ft (0.2010496137 m³) to anywhere from 12.7 cu ft (0.3596239569 m³) to 29 cu ft (0.821188563 m³). Overall weight on the Surf versus the Karma increases by just 77 pounds (34.9 kg).
for the Fisker Karma Sunset.
The Fisker Karma was listed among the "Green Design 100" of 2009 by Time Magazine. Also, Time listed the Karma among the "The 50 Best Inventions" of 2011. In November 2011 the Fisker Karma won Automobile magazine
's 2012 Design of the Year Award.
Sports sedan
A sports sedan or a sports saloon is a descriptive term applied to a sedan automobile that is designed to look and feel "sporty", offering the motorist more connection with the driving experience, while providing the comfort and amenities expected of a luxury sedan. A wider definition that includes...
produced by Fisker Automotive
Fisker Automotive
Fisker Automotive is an American automaker based in Anaheim, California. The company's first product, the Fisker Karma is among the world's first true electric vehicles with extended range...
and manufactured at Valmet Automotive
Valmet Automotive
Valmet Automotive is a Finnish car maker. The majority of company is owned by Metso . Valmet Automotive is a contract manufacturer of specialty automobiles.-Production:...
in Finland. The United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
(EPA) rated the Karma's combined city/highway fuel economy
Fuel economy in automobiles
Fuel usage in automobiles refers to the fuel efficiency relationship between distance traveled by an automobile and the amount of fuel consumed....
at 52 mpgU.S. (22.1 km/L) equivalent (MPG-e)
Miles per gallon gasoline equivalent
Miles per gallon gasoline equivalent is a measure of the average distance traveled per unit of energy consumed. MPGe is used by the U.S...
in all-electric mode, and at 20 mpgU.S. (8.5 km/L) in gasoline-only mode. EPA's official all-electric range
All-electric range
All-electric range is the driving range of a vehicle using only power from its electric battery pack to traverse a given driving cycle. In the case of a battery electric vehicle, it means the total range per charge. For a plug-in hybrid , it means the range of the vehicle in charge-depleting mode...
is 32 mi (51.5 km).
After missing its initial late 2009 launch, and after the launch was re-scheduled several times, the first deliveries took place in the U.S. in late July 2011, and deliveries to retail customers began in November 2011. The Fisker Karma sells for for the basic model, and for the top model.
History
The Fisker Karma was revealed at the 2008 North American International Auto ShowNorth American International Auto Show
The North American International Auto Show is an annual auto show held in Detroit, Michigan at Cobo Center, usually in January. It is among the largest auto shows in North America.-History:...
.
It is the first car from Fisker Automotive
Fisker Automotive
Fisker Automotive is an American automaker based in Anaheim, California. The company's first product, the Fisker Karma is among the world's first true electric vehicles with extended range...
, a new auto maker based in Anaheim, California, founded
on 5 September 2007.
Production began in July 2011, and the first two deliveries took place in the United States on July 26, 2011. In October 2011 the first Karma delivered in the UK was auctioned to benefit Pratham UK
Pratham
Pratham is a non-governmental organisation that works towards the provision of quality education to the underprivileged children in India. Established in Mumbai in 1994 to provide pre-school education to children in slums, it now has activities in 21 states of India and has supporting chapters in...
and raised a bid of (around .
Specifications
The Karma is technically a series hybrid, driven by a pair of electric motors totaling 403hp that get their power from a 22 kWh lithium ion batteryLithium ion battery
A lithium-ion battery is a family of rechargeable battery types in which lithium ions move from the negative electrode to the positive electrode during discharge, and back when charging. Chemistry, performance, cost, and safety characteristics vary across LIB types...
supplied by A123 Systems, or a 175 kW generator spun by an efficient, 2.2L gasoline engine. The engine is mated with a generator to provide an electrical connection to the motors and also recharge the batteries and as such the electric motors are the only mechanical driving force connected to the wheels. The proprietary Q-Drive hybrid drive train is supplied by Quantum Technologies, which operates in a joint venture with Fisker Coachbuild known as Fisker Automotive.
The Karma includes as standard a solar paneled roof manufactured by Asola Advanced and Automotive Solar Systems GmbH, a Quantum Technologies affiliate, not only to aid in the recharging of its Lithium-Ion batteries but also to aid the cabin climate control system. The solar roof is capable of generating a half kilowatt-hour a day and is estimated to provide up to 4 to- of additional range a week assuming continuously sunny days. Additionally, the car will offer a set of solar panels for the garage/house which may charge the Karma entirely 'off the grid'.
The Karma's two 201 bhp motors produce 1300 newton metres (958.8 ft·lbf) of torque, more than the Bugatti Veyron
Bugatti Veyron
The Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4 is a mid-engined grand touring car. The Super Sport version is the fastest road-legal production car in the world, with a top speed of . The original version has a top speed of...
at 1250 N·m (922 ft·lbf). The Karma features a 125 mi/h top speed and is capable of reaching 60 mph (96.6 km/h) from a standstill in 5.8 seconds.
The base model features an "eco-friendly interior", including salvaged lumber from fires or even from lake bottoms. Optional leather seating is available, but it will use much more of the cow hide than would customarily be found on luxury models—hides with scratches and other mars (which should not affect functionality) will be used.
Fuel economy and range
The Environmental Protection AgencyUnited States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
(EPA) official all-electric range for the Fisker Karma is 32 mi (51.5 km) under the agency's five-cycle tests using varying driving conditions and climate controls. EPA's estimated energy consumption is 65 kWh per 100 miles (1462 kJ/km). The total range with a full tank of gasoline and a fully charged battery is 230 miles (370.1 km). EPA's official rating for combined city/highway fuel economy
Fuel economy in automobiles
Fuel usage in automobiles refers to the fuel efficiency relationship between distance traveled by an automobile and the amount of fuel consumed....
in all-electric mode is 52 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent
Miles per gallon gasoline equivalent
Miles per gallon gasoline equivalent is a measure of the average distance traveled per unit of energy consumed. MPGe is used by the U.S...
(MPG-e) (4.5 L gasoline equivalent/100 km; 62 mpg-imp gasoline equivalent). The EPA rating in gasoline-only mode is 20 mpgU.S. (8.5 km/L). Regarding EPA's rating Henrik Fisker
Henrik Fisker
Henrik Fisker is a leading automobile designer and CEO of Fisker Coachbuild. He has lived and worked in Germany, London, and in Southern California. Henrik Fisker graduated from the short-lived Swiss campus of California's Art Center College of Design in 1989...
, CEO and co-founder of Fisker Automotive commented that "...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."
The German Technical Inspection Association
Technischer Überwachungsverein
TÜVs are German organizations that work to validate the safety of products of all kinds to protect humans and the environment against hazards. As independent consultants, they examine plants, motor vehicles, energy installations, devices and products TÜVs (short for Technischer...
(TUV) found through independent tests that the Fisker Karma has an all-electric range of 83 km (51.6 mi) in stealth mode. TUV found that in charge-sustaining sport mode the Karma achieves a fuel economy of 26 mpg (9.2 l/100km). The combined fuel economy was rated at 112 MPG-e (2.1 l/100km equivalent) and the emissions level is 51 g/km CO2.
Production and delivery
The Finnish newspaper Helsingin SanomatHelsingin Sanomat
Helsingin Sanomat is the largest subscription newspaper in Finland and the Nordic countries, owned by Sanoma. Except after certain holidays, it is published daily. In 2008, its daily circulation was 412,421 on weekdays and 468,505 on Sundays...
reported that Fisker Automotive and Valmet Automotive
Valmet Automotive
Valmet Automotive is a Finnish car maker. The majority of company is owned by Metso . Valmet Automotive is a contract manufacturer of specialty automobiles.-Production:...
reached an early agreement to manufacture the cars in Uusikaupunki
Uusikaupunki
Uusikaupunki , is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located in the Finland Proper region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is inland water. The population density is .The municipality is unilingually Finnish...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. The Valmet factory located there currently produces Porsche Boxster
Porsche Boxster
The Porsche Boxster is a mid-engined roadster built by Porsche. The Boxster is Porsche's first road vehicle to be originally designed as a roadster since the 550 Spyder....
and Cayman
Porsche Cayman
The Porsche Cayman is a mid-engined, rear wheel drive 2-seat sports car produced by Porsche AG of Germany. First launched in the 2006 model year, the Cayman is a coupé derived from Porsche's second generation Boxster convertible. Like the Boxster, most Caymans were assembled in Finland for Porsche...
models (until 2012), and has previously produced various Saab
Saab
Saab AB is a Swedish aerospace and defence company, founded in 1937. From 1947 to 1990 it was the parent company of automobile manufacturer Saab Automobile, and between 1968 and 1995 the company was in a merger with commercial vehicle manufacturer Scania, known as Saab-Scania.-History:"Svenska...
models as well as some other cars. On November 13, 2008, the final assembly contract was signed by both parties.
In 2008 Fisker Automotive began accepting pre-order
Pre-order
A pre-order is an order placed for an item which has not yet been released. The idea for pre-orders came when people found it hard to get popular items in stores due to their popularity. Companies were then given the idea to allow people to reserve their own personal copy, before the release, ...
s in the US, and Europe and initially scheduled sales of its Karma PHEV by the fourth quarter of 2009 in the US, and starting in 2010 in Europe.
In 2009 Henrik Fisker reported 1,300 orders for the Karma. Henrik Fisker showed the first production model Karma at the 2010 Paris Motor Show.
After re-scheduling the Karma launch to September 2010, and missing its target to build 70 to 100 test cars in 2010, production began in July 2011, and the two first deliveries took place in the United States during the same month. The Valmet plant
Valmet Automotive
Valmet Automotive is a Finnish car maker. The majority of company is owned by Metso . Valmet Automotive is a contract manufacturer of specialty automobiles.-Production:...
in Finland began production with five cars a week, and Fisker expects to raise production to 300 cars a week from November 2011. As of July 2011, Fisker claims it has received 3,000 pre-orders and that the plug-in hybrid is sold out until early 2012. Deliveries to retail customers began in November 2011. The first production batch of 39 units was allocated for dealerships as demonstration vehicles.
Tesla lawsuit
On 14 April 2008 Tesla MotorsTesla Motors
Tesla Motors, Inc. is a Silicon Valley-based company that designs, manufactures and sells electric cars and electric vehicle powertrain components. It was the only automaker building and selling a zero-emission sports car, the Tesla Roadster, in serial production...
filed a lawsuit against Fisker Automotive, alleging that Henrik Fisker stole Tesla's Model S
Tesla Model S
The Tesla Model S is a full-sized battery electric sedan developed by Tesla Motors. It is an electric car that was initially codenamed WhiteStar during research and preliminary development. Model S was announced in a press release on June 30, 2008...
hybrid technology and is using it to develop the Karma. Tesla's suit claimed that the design work done for the Model S sedan by Fisker Coachbuild
Fisker Coachbuild
For the manufacturer of the Fisker Karma, see Fisker AutomotiveFisker Coachbuild is a car design firm based in Orange County, California. The company produces custom sportscars. Its current models are the Tramonto and Latigo CS...
was substandard, and that Fisker Automotive diverted its best ideas to the Karma.
On 4 November 2008 CNET News reported that Tesla Motors would discontinue its suit after an interim ruling in favor of Fisker et al. A news release on the Fisker Automotive website stated that Tesla was ordered to pay $1,144,285 in costs.
Related models
Convertible model
In January 2009 Fisker previewed the Karma S 'Sunset' at the North American International Auto ShowNorth American International Auto Show
The North American International Auto Show is an annual auto show held in Detroit, Michigan at Cobo Center, usually in January. It is among the largest auto shows in North America.-History:...
,
the world's first plug-in hybrid convertible, with a folding hardtop
Hardtop
A hardtop is a term for a rigid, rather than canvas, automobile roof. It has been used in several contexts: detachable hardtops, retractable hardtop roofs, and the so-called pillarless hardtop body style....
.
Fisker Surf
The Fisker Surf was unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show — described by Automobile as a shooting-brakeShooting-brake
Shooting-brake, shooting brake or shooting break is a term for a car body style that has evolved through several distinct meanings over its history....
or a hatchback
Hatchback
A Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box...
. Sales of the four-door plug-in hybrid, which has the same range as the Karma, are scheduled to begin in 2013. The Surf's entire powertrain, chassis, and interior are identical to the Karma sedan, with the only major cabin change being the additional room in back for a couple of adults, and expandable room in the back is up from 7.1 cu ft (0.2010496137 m³) to anywhere from 12.7 cu ft (0.3596239569 m³) to 29 cu ft (0.821188563 m³). Overall weight on the Surf versus the Karma increases by just 77 pounds (34.9 kg).
Awards and recognition
2009 marked the first time that an electric vehicle was named a North American Production Preview Vehicle of the Year by the North American Concept Vehicle of the Year Awards. The award went to Fisker AutomotiveFisker Automotive
Fisker Automotive is an American automaker based in Anaheim, California. The company's first product, the Fisker Karma is among the world's first true electric vehicles with extended range...
for the Fisker Karma Sunset.
The Fisker Karma was listed among the "Green Design 100" of 2009 by Time Magazine. Also, Time listed the Karma among the "The 50 Best Inventions" of 2011. In November 2011 the Fisker Karma won Automobile magazine
Automobile magazine
An automobile magazine is a magazine with news and reports on automobiles and the automobile industry. Automobile magazines may feature new car tests and comparisons, which describe advantages and disadvantages of similar models; future models speculations, confidential information and "spyshots"...
's 2012 Design of the Year Award.