• Home
• New Car Buyer's Guide
• Buyer's Guides By Make
• Reviews
• Total Costs
• Auto Parts
• Video/Audio
• PennySaver Ads

Fisker Automotive's Karma Prototype on the Test Track for Initial Development

SEE ALSO: Fisker Karma at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show(Text+Video)

First Production Car from Green American Premium Sports Car Company Remains on Track for 2009 Delivery

IRVINE, Calif., May 13 -- Fisker Automotive, Inc. and Quantum Technologies announced today they are performing initial vehicle testing and fine tuning the battery software management system for the Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid production car. These initial test track developments are taking place in Southern California.

Three Fisker Karma prototypes have been built, and are currently undergoing testing for the electric powertrain developed by Quantum Technologies. Concurrently, the Fisker Automotive engineering team is working on crash test simulation. Further validation and certification on the vehicles will be performed over the coming months.

"We are very excited about the initial test results of the Fisker Karma prototype," said Henrik Fisker, CEO, Fisker Automotive. "The vehicle dynamics and fuel economy have performed better than expected and we remain on target for our fourth quarter 2009 initial delivery."

In sport mode the Fisker Karma will offer a continuous top speed of 125 miles per hour (200km/h). Electric only, or stealth mode, is capped at 95 miles per hour (150 km/h). Preliminary testing of the lithium-ion battery that powers the Fisker Karma has indicated a life expectancy of more than 10 years.

Configured to meet the demands of today's driver, the Fisker Karma's proprietary design allows consumers to drive the car emission free for up to 50 miles a day provided the car is charged every evening. With more than 80 percent of daily commuters driving less than 50 miles (80 km) a day, consumers who drive the Fisker Karma could conceivably only need to refuel the car but once a year.

Fisker Automotive is preparing to deliver its first Premium Edition vehicles by fourth quarter 2009. Currently, Fisker Automotive has received more than 500 orders for the Fisker Karma since its 2008 debut at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in January. Fisker Automotive will reach a full production of 1,250 vehicles per month by the end of 2010. The starting estimated MSRP for the Fisker Karma will be approximately $80,000 or EURO 80,000.

Fisker Automotive, Inc.

Fisker Automotive is a privately owned car company with Henrik Fisker as the CEO. Fisker Coachbuild, LLC will be the exclusive design house for Fisker Automotive through the entire range of product development. The company has backing from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Palo Alto Investors.

About Quantum Technologies :

Quantum is a publicly traded, world leader and OEM supplier of state-of-the-art clean propulsion technologies, fuel and energy storage technologies and services including propulsion systems for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicles, compressed natural gas vehicles, liquid petroleum vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids based on advanced electronic control systems and Lithium Ion batteries developed by Quantum's strategic alliance partner. Quantum also provides engineering services including vehicle development and homologation.