Fisker Karma at Laguna Seca update: even at 100 mph, PHEV used no gas
Fisker Karma takes to the track at Laguna Seca - Click above for a high-res image gallery
Fisker Automotive has released a bit more information about that one lap that the Karma ran at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on Saturday. According to the start-up, during the silent (for proof, see the video) lap around the track, the luxury plug-in hybrid managed to hit 100 mph and didn't use any gasoline. Average folks with money who buy a Karma won't get to hit that speed very often (to say nothing of the 125 mph top speed), but the Karma's 0-60mph time of six seconds won't go unnoticed. At Laguna Seca over the weekend, the driver was Fisker Automotive co-founder and COO Bernhard Koehler.
Fisker CEO Henrik Fisker believes the single lap shows a lot of promise: ""This demonstration represents a significant milestone for Fisker Automotive and PHEV technology. The future of clean cars is bright."
Gallery: Fisker Karma at Laguna Seca
Photos (except the large image above) copyright ©2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Fisker ]
PRESS RELEASE:
FISKER KARMA PHEV MAKES WORLD DRIVING DEBUT
Plug-in hybrid silently laps racetrack without gasoline
Monterey, CA – August 17, 2009: The Fisker Karma PHEV made its public driving debut over the weekend, just 19 months after being introduced as a concept.
The 403hp prototype Karma Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) attained a speed of 100 mph, but used no gasoline as it made its way around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca during the Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races. Behind the wheel was Fisker Automotive co-founder and COO Bernhard Koehler.
California-based Fisker Automotive is developing the full size Karma sedan to be the first production PHEV. The Karma proves fuel-efficient vehicles can generate the passion and excitement that made us fall in love with cars in the first place. Although the Fisker Karma can reach 60mph in six seconds and a top speed of 125mph it can also achieve well over 100mpg. Carbon emissions are also lower than today's hybrids.
"This demonstration represents a significant milestone for Fisker Automotive and PHEV technology," said CEO Henrik Fisker. "The future of clean cars is bright."
The Karma has a range of 50 emission-free miles on a full charge of its Lithium-ion battery, and a total range of 300 miles thanks to an on-board generator turned by traditional but efficient 260hp, four-cylinder gasoline engine. Combined with two powerful electric motors, these components make up the Q-DRIVE® powertrain exclusive to all Fisker automobiles. Q-DRIVE® delivers the ultimate combination of performance, range and efficiency.
ABOUT FISKER AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
Fisker Automotive, founded in 2007 by Fisker Coachbuild, LLC and Quantum Technologies (QTWW), is a privately owned American car company producing premium green automobiles, with Henrik Fisker as CEO. Global headquarters are located in Irvine, Calif. The company is backed by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Palo Alto Investors and the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA). More information is available at www.fiskerautomotive.com.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Nick P. 8:36AM (8/18/2009)
That's great news. Skeptics won't shut up until they can drag race this baby against a Tesla, but development looks to be on track. Congrats Mr. Fisker!
I only wish Fisker had gone electric-only -- like the Model S. I hope they drop the gaz engine in their future cars, otherwise they will have to compete with Lexus and Mercedes hybrids.
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Throwback 9:21AM (8/18/2009)
Competing with Lexus and Mercedes is exactly where they want to be. My guess is even at a higher price point, the Karma will outsell the Model S.
oldraven 9:22AM (8/18/2009)
The nice thing about the ER-EV's is that they can be EV only, depending on how you drive it. Though I'm sure someone has probably told you that at one point or another. The gas engine is only there for when you don't want an EV, if you get what I mean. Considering that the plug-in power is produced by fossil fuels to begin with (mostly), we should be looking at these range extending generators as your own portable power plant. Bottom line, it's not 'just another gas powered car'. It's an EV with a bonus option. ;)
Dave 9:42AM (8/18/2009)
Everybody knows that EVs can be powerful and fast. There are freight trains powered by electric motors. So what?
The video doesn't address any of the real issues:
What is the range?
How much does it cost?
How badly does the heavy battery pack affect handling?
What mpg will it deliver when the genset kicks in?
Anyone can build an EV with off the shelf components:
http://www.evcomponents.com/
The problem is building an affordable one.
Serge 9:43AM (8/18/2009)
Ok, the EV mode works, which is good a first step. Let's see a demo with range extender on next.
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Mark Mitchell 9:45AM (8/18/2009)
One whole lap huh? What an incredible achievement! EV races might best be sponsored by Starbucks. Lots of caffeine will be needed to keep fans awake.
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Serge 11:38AM (8/18/2009)
The only difference from gasoline races is the lack of noise. I guess that keeps the fans up.
Forget the Starbucks, there are better methods http://img.metro.co.uk/i/pix/2008/03/form1girlsAP_450x300.jpg
Snowdog 10:41AM (8/18/2009)
Exotic good looks, 0-60 in 6 seconds, and with a 50 mile EV range that likely means 280mpg on the new draft PHEV EPA/GM cycle. ;-)
Whats not to love?
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why not the LS2LS7? 10:54AM (8/18/2009)
Fisker says the car will hit 100mpg. How is that going to happen? It'll be tough for them to match the Prius in efficiency and it doesn't get near 100mpg.
Maybe they're counting BS plug-in figures like the Volt 230 figure?
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Snowdog 11:08AM (8/18/2009)
Well I suspect it will get more than 250 "mpg" on the new bogus GM/EPA test.
Sad that EPA caved and let GM have its way, now we will get a raft of useless super high MPG numbers that mean nothing.
It will probably take a couple of years of angry consumers to get them to toss this misleading blended number in favor of:
EV range.
Range extender MPG.
But it looks like we will be stuck with the nonsense numbers for some time to come.
gorr 10:55AM (8/18/2009)
This car cannot race for more then a minute or two, it's too heavey and the batteries are no devices to race, it gonna overheat in minutes. This is a hypermilling machine only, the less you use it the best it goes. It cost 2x the money it should. It's like a volt, it's there to help the richs keep petrol and coal market.
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Doug 11:19AM (8/18/2009)
So the lap was EV only?
I'm curious if they're going through all the genset software tweaking that GM is.
http://gm-volt.com/2009/08/17/exclusive-the-engineering-challenges-of-generator-mode/
It's an interesting engineering problem: Balancing efficiency with the occupants' NVH expectations for a given driving situation. The Karma seems to have a different approach with it's "Stealth" and "Sport" modes. I'm eager to see those demonstrated.
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