Fisker Karma Gets 52 MPGe

The Fisker Karma will begin selling at a measly $95,900. That makes it the most expensive plug-in hybrid to be mass produced and sold. Is 32 miles of electric range, followed by 20 mpg worth that amount?<br /><br />To put it in perspective, the Volt is supposed to get 35 miles on electric, followed by 37 mpg on gasoline alone. But then again, I don't think fuel economy is what the Karma is truly about. When the Karma can go 0-60 in 5.9 seconds, but still get 52 MPGe, Fisker may be targeting a different demographic altogether.

Fisker Karma Gets 52 MPGe

The Fisker Karma will begin selling at a measly $95,900. That makes it the most expensive plug-in hybrid to be mass produced and sold. Is ...

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Fisker Raises Another $188 Million to Launch Karma

Fisker has raised another $188 million, including $115 million from the US government. The money will be used to begin producing their plug-in hybrid electric car, the Karma. The total includes $35 million they raised in private equity.<br /><br />The launch of the Karma has been delayed a couple of times, as Fisker has worked to increase the funding it needs. Fisker plans on selling the Karma for $87,900, while the lower cost 'family sedan' Nina will cost almost half of that. The Nina will be built in 2012 at an old GM plant.

Fisker Raises Another $188 Million to Launch Karma

Fisker has raised another $188 million, including $115 million from the US government. The money will be used to begin producing their plu...

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Fisker Looks for More Millions to Upgrade Delaware Plant

Fisker is looking for more government money. After receiving <a href="http://hybridreview.blogspot.com/2010/04/fisker-gets-500-million-from-government.html">almost $529 million from the federal loan program</a>, they are looking for the state of Delaware to <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9FARUT80.htm">kick in another $9 million</a> in a grant.<br /><br />The grant money will be used to offset utility costs while it upgrades the GM facility in Newport using another $12.5 million from a convertible loan.<br /><br />There's nothing really new about this sort of thing. The major automakers have relied on loans, grants, tax breaks and other money from the government for decades to build cars. The only difference here is the size of the automaker and the single type of car they are working on (plug-in).

Fisker Looks for More Millions to Upgrade Delaware Plant

Fisker is looking for more government money. After receiving almost $529 million from the federal loan program , they are looking for the s...

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Fisker Gets $500 Million From the Government

Fisker has closed its loan with the federal government, giving it $528.7 million to help develop <a href="http://hybridreview.blogspot.com/2008/12/fisker-karma.html">the Karma</a> and NINA programs.<br /><br />The NINA program is its new development, a family sedan to be built in <a href="http://hybridreview.blogspot.com/2009/10/fisker-goes-to-delaware.html">the old Delaware GM plant</a>.<br /><br />"The story of Fisker is a story of ingenuity of an American company, a commitment to innovation by the U.S. government and the perseverance of the American auto industry," said Vice President Joe Biden. "The Boxwood Plant is opening again, employing workers in Delaware, and is serving as a roadmap for all we can accomplish if everyone works together. Thanks to real dedication by this administration, loans from the Department of Energy, the creativity of U.S. companies, and the tenacity of great state partners like Delaware—we're on our way to helping America's auto industry reclaim its top position in the global market."<br /><br />Fisker says the NINA will cost consumers just under $40,000 after federal tax credits. <br /><br />"Not only will the Fisker projects contribute to cleaner air and reduced carbon emissions, these plug-in hybrid cars will help put American ingenuity at the forefront of automotive design and production," said Secretary Chu. "And they will bring innovative cars to the market place while putting American workers back on the job," Secretary Chu added.<br /><br />Fisker's plug-in hybrid products will be among the first to market and will help to accelerate the introduction of fuel-saving electrified vehicles in the United States. When full production is reached in 2015, Fisker estimates annual sales at up to 115,000 vehicles. Combining Fisker projected sales volume with the expected sales volume of the Nissan Leaf and the Tesla Model S, sales of electric and PHEVs funded with DOE ATVM loans could exceed 300,000 annually.<br /><br />Initially, Fisker Automotive will use the proceeds of the loan for qualifying engineering integration costs as it works with primarily U.S. suppliers to incorporate components into the Karma's design. The engineering integration work will be conducted in Irvine, California, where engineers will design tools and equipment and develop manufacturing processes. The Karma is scheduled to appear in showrooms in late 2010. The second stage will involve the purchase and retooling of the former GM plant to manufacture the Project NINA line of PHEVs, which is expected to begin rolling off the assembly line in late 2012.<br /><br />Fisker automobiles are driven by electric motors that get their power from a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery, or, when that is depleted, by a generator driven by an efficient gas-powered engine. The Karma and Project NINA models will have an all-electric, tailpipe-emission-free range of 40 to 50 miles on a full charge, more than most Americans drive each day. The battery can be charged at home overnight. Using gas and electric power, Fisker plug-in hybrids are expected to have a cruising range of up to 300 miles.

Fisker Gets $500 Million From the Government

Fisker has closed its loan with the federal government, giving it $528.7 million to help develop the Karma and NINA programs. The NINA prog...

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Hybrid Car Brands

Just who is making hybrid cars these days and what brands are considering making hybrid cars in the future?<br /><br /><b>Major Hybrid Car Brands</b><br />Hybrid cars are currently being built and sold by <i>General Motors, Ford, Honda, Toyota and Nissan</i>. General Motors builds hybrid cars under several divisions including <i>Saturn, Chevrolet, and GMC</i>.  Ford has the <i>Mercury </i>and Ford divisions.  Toyota sells hybrids under the brand name of <i>Lexus</i> .  While Honda and Nissan just sell hybrids under their own name plates.<br /><br /><b>Toyota</b><br />Under the Toyota brand name, there are three models currently on sale. The iconic Prius is almost synonymous with hybrid and is the first car most people think of when they think of hybrids. Toyota also sells the Camry Hybrid and Highlander Hybrid under the moniker of Toyota.<br /><br />Toyota also has their luxury division, the Lexus hybrids. Under the Lexus brand name, Toyota sells the HS, LS, RX, and GS Hybrids. They keep adding models under the Lexus nameplate, so expect and IS hybrid to arrive soon. The HS hybrid is a dedicated model like the Prius. The others are subtypes under the model. In other words, you can buy gas-only models, or you can opt for the hybrid engine.<br /><br /><b>Honda</b><br />Honda sells the Civic Hybrid under their brand name. They also currently sell the only other dedicated hybrid on the road, the Insight. They used to sell a Hybrid Accord, and the two-seater hybrid Insight, but have retired both models.<br /><br />Expect to see Acura Hybrids in the future.<br /><br /><b>Nissan</b><br />Nissan has only one hybrid model for sale, the Nissan Altima Hybrid. It is built using hybrid technology from Toyota and is sold in only eight US states. Nissan has plans to bring an Infiniti M35 Hybrid to market in the coming year.<br /><br /><b>General Motors (Cadillac, Chevy, Saturn, GMC)</b><br />They build several models (currently) using the Chevrolet brand. There is the Chevy Malibu and Chevy Silverado. The Chevy Volt, the Extended Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV), will be out soon and while GM considers the Volt to be a subtype of electric vehicle, it still falls under the hybrid type.<br /><br />GM also builds the GMC Yukon and Sierra. And the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid also falls under the GM brand.<br /><br />The Saturn brand was at one point, the cornerstone for hybrids under the GM umbrella. But Saturn is no more. You can still see the hybrid Vue and Aura on the road today.<br /><br /><b>Ford</b><br />Ford sells four different models under two different brand names. The Mercury Division sells the Milan and Mariner Hybrid. While Ford retains the Fusion and Escape Hybrid. The Lincoln division will have its own hybrid soon, but it's not here yet. The Mercury hybrids are the upgraded version of the Ford Hybrids, so expect them to be very similar if you take a look at both of them.<br /><br /><b>Chrysler</b><br />Chrysler sold the Aspen and Durango Hybrids for a total of two months before pulling the plug on both models. The Dodge Durango is very similar to the Chrysler Aspen, and both were built using the dual hybrid technology developed in partnership with BMW and GM. <br /><br />Chrysler at one point had plans to bring a Dodge Ram Hybrid to market, but that seems to be on hold.<br /><br /><b>Hyundai</b><br />Hyundai is jumping in with both feet in the next year, with the Sonata Hybrid. Distinguishing itself from the other hybrids listed above, it's going to be one of the first hybrids to use lithium polymer battery packs, giving it an advantage over some of the more established hybrid models and brands listed above.<br /><br /><b>Mazda</b><br />Mazda has sold the Tribute hybrid in very limited numbers.  The Tribute was built using Ford Hybrid technology, when Mazda and Ford were a lot tighter than they are today.  Now Mazda is looking to partner with Toyota for the technology used in the Prius for their future hybrid model in 2013.<br /><br /><b>Fisker and Tesla</b><br />Fisker and Tesla are both bringing hybrid cars to market (they probably don't appreciate being lumped together given the lawsuits over the past few years). These startups are working hard to go straight to electric or hybrid and are emphasizing performance, rather than fuel efficiency right from the get go.<br /><br /><b>Audi, Subaru, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Daimler, Ferrari, Lotus, Kia, Maserati, Porsche, Suzuki, Volkswagen and Volvo</b><br />Each of the brands mentioned above are attempting their own hybrid models, and several have brought some noteworthy test models to auto shows. Several are on their way to bringing those cars to market right now, but are still a few years away from seeing them on the road in more than just 'test fleets'. Some are closer than others, while some probably have no intention of ever going hybrid unless they are forced to do so by the tighter restrictions being enforced in Europe, Asia and the US in the coming years.<br /><br /><b>Looking for more information on one of the brands above? </b><br />Either search for the brand name here on this site or use the categories below or on the sidebars.  Each of the major brands listed will have more information that I've accumulated over the years.

Hybrid Car Brands

Just who is making hybrid cars these days and what brands are considering making hybrid cars in the future? Major Hybrid Car Brands Hybrid c...

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Fisker Karma Space Frame... Cool Image

Fisker released images of its advanced aluminum space frame underpinning the Fisker Karma.  The Karma is a plug-in hybrid sedan.  You can see the space for the battery pack running down the middle of the frame.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLShaC42oJhmHJx5wpDpWkeqL6_XcUcgtFqoeZ5XLeS5yt5TdsMafnJeEPGOo3srHVWAnw5yphnB213gikScu49T7c1SUMsO0T0ZZZp_kqcHBjqHX7JyMu4SvtdisJc5SILAXselbmhg8/s1600-h/Fisker%20Karma%20Frame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLShaC42oJhmHJx5wpDpWkeqL6_XcUcgtFqoeZ5XLeS5yt5TdsMafnJeEPGOo3srHVWAnw5yphnB213gikScu49T7c1SUMsO0T0ZZZp_kqcHBjqHX7JyMu4SvtdisJc5SILAXselbmhg8/s400/Fisker%20Karma%20Frame.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fisker Karma Aluminum Space Frame</td></tr></tbody></table>What I like about the image (except for the ooohhh.. isn't that cool factor) is that it looks like a car frame.  There's some bumper stuff, the frame is there, looks like a sports car.<br /><br />In other words, it doesn't look like some space age image concept that a car company is never going to follow up on.  No, this car is real, it's going to plug-in, and it's not that far away.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SZYBtNegq-oaTZ2Sl37K6fNlT0qSCdxg6_dWmH1c93Uq8u8e74PixyhKbx52tO8LK_goTPOuwAgMfE3td5DrxTEEIcoU3XzDO3adUjCTCkcZLdhyphenhyphendJNWVOuUJfMMlHlIrAFQg1rJbnE/s1600-h/Fisker%20Karma.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SZYBtNegq-oaTZ2Sl37K6fNlT0qSCdxg6_dWmH1c93Uq8u8e74PixyhKbx52tO8LK_goTPOuwAgMfE3td5DrxTEEIcoU3XzDO3adUjCTCkcZLdhyphenhyphendJNWVOuUJfMMlHlIrAFQg1rJbnE/s400/Fisker%20Karma.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fisker Karma</td></tr></tbody></table>Expensive, so I'll never own one, but still, it's no concept.<br /><br />The press release from back in February on the 'advanced aluminum space frame' from Fisker is below if you want to get all technical about the image.<br /><br /><br />IRVINE, CA – February 17, 2010: The advanced aluminum space frame underpinning the Fisker Karma incorporates new levels of rigidity and strength that will give the world's first premium plug-in hybrid electric vehicle world-class ride and handling characteristics. It will debut at the Geneva Motor Show March 2-14, 2010.<br /><br />Fisker Automotive's talented and experienced engineering team designed the Karma's space frame around the car's unique Q-DRIVE® series-hybrid powertrain, filing for multiple patents in the process. Q-DRIVE® consists of a 2.0-liter turbocharged ECOTEC® engine/generator set, a lithium-ion battery pack from A123 Systems, and a rear-mounted 403hp traction motor assembly.<br /><br />Though it forms the foundation of a large sedan the Karma space frame's rigidity is exceptional even when compared to today's sports cars. By utilizing 5,000- and 6,000- series aluminum alloys and a unique extrusion-intensive architecture, the Fisker engineering team achieved the best balance between weight and size.<br /><br />"Our top priorities when we designed the Karma's aluminum space frame were that it have extremely high torsional rigidity and could be easily modified to accept Karma model variants," explained Henrik Fisker, CEO, Fisker Automotive. "We benchmarked some of the world's best cars to create an all-new space frame that will deliver an exhilarating experience behind the wheel.<br /><br />A super-structural tunnel running down the car's centerline acts as the Karma's backbone. It not only houses the battery pack but acts as a torque tube connecting front and rear sections. For optimal strength the Karma's space frame is joined with 79 meters of precision CMT MIG welds and 1,058 self-piercing rivets. Each technique is used independently only where necessary to ensure top quality and durability.<br /><br />The result is an industry-leading space frame that provides a solid foundation for the Karma. Few cars match its statistics: Static torsional rigidity – the amount the space frame resists twisting forces when entering a ramp at an angle, for example – measures more than 33,000 Newton-meters per degree (Nm/deg). Static bending rigidity – the amount the space frame resists flexing forces as the car enters a ramp straight on, for example – measures more than 23,000 N/mm. Dynamic stiffness – the space frame's resistance to resonant vibrations like those felt when driving over a sharp bump or rough road surfaces -- is also world class.<br /><br />Thanks to intelligent engineering solutions the Karma's space frame also provides the utmost in occupant safety and exceeds global crash protection standards.<br /><br />Front impact protection starts with a patent-pending, multi-cell tempered aluminum crush box that displaces high-impact energy away from passengers. Its unique design allows it to be easily replaced, reducing repair costs that could lower insurance premiums. Dual Phase 600-Series steel reinforced components in the doors and B- pillars provide substantial side impact protection. And the lithium-ion battery's location in the center of the car puts it farthest from impact areas.<br /><br />Valmet Automotive will assemble the space frames at its state-of-the-art facility in Uusikaupunki, Finland.

Fisker Karma Space Frame... Cool Image

Fisker released images of its advanced aluminum space frame underpinning the Fisker Karma.  The Karma is a plug-in hybrid sedan.  You can se...

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Fisker Moves Out of Michigan

Fisker has closed its Michigan office and will move operations to its offices in Irvine, CA. 20-30 employees are relocating, while Fisker says they will be hiring 100 new workers in the coming year.<br /><br />Source: <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-fisker5-2010feb05,0,585094.story">Fisker Automotive to shut facility in Michigan - latimes.com</a><br /><br />Fisker says it is using some of the <a href="http://hybridreview.blogspot.com/2010/01/fisker-raises-100-million-in-order-to.html">money it received in private funding</a> to fund the move. They are getting ready for production of the Karma, a plug-in hybrid, while also preparing for the Nina project.

Fisker Moves Out of Michigan

Fisker has closed its Michigan office and will move operations to its offices in Irvine, CA. 20-30 employees are relocating, while Fisker s...

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Fisker Raises 100 Million in Order to Get 500 More

Fisker, as part of the plan to access the $528.7 million in government loans, said it has acquired $115.3 million in private equity funding to develop plug-in hybrid and hybrid electric cars.<br /><br />Fisker raised the money from, among others, A123 Systems, Ace Investments and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. Fisker Automotive earlier this week signed a multi-year supply agreement with A123 Systems for the lithium-ion batteries that will power the Karma. <br /><br />"Fisker Automotive selected A123 because of the company's ability to meet our performance needs and rapidly scale to our production volume," said Fisker. "We are committed to developing environmentally friendly cars that don't sacrifice style or performance. A123's technology will ensure the Karma delivers."<br /><br />Fisker had earlier applied for a $528.7 million U.S. Department of Energy conditional loan. Fisker is anticipating they will be able to move forward with that loan, now that they have raised the $115 million from private investors.<br /><br />The money will be used to build the Fisker Karma, and on the Nina project. The Nina will be a plug-in hybrid sedan built in Delaware. Fisker is purchasing a former GM plant and will be outfitting it to build the Nina. Reports have pricetag for the Nina somewhere in the $45-50 thousand range.<br /><br />Fisker will need to raise an additional $27 million in equity to jump the next government hurdle.

Fisker Raises 100 Million in Order to Get 500 More

Fisker, as part of the plan to access the $528.7 million in government loans, said it has acquired $115.3 million in private equity funding ...

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Fisker Working With UAW to Work in Delaware Plant

Fisker is negotiating with the UAW to begin working in the GM plant they are in the midst of buying in Delaware. I'd say it's surprising that a new car company like Fisker is ready to jump right into the Union pool, but what do I know about such things? (Source: <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.reuters.com/article/Autos09/idUSTRE5A24OZ20091103">Fisker, UAW aim to reach labor deal | Industry Summits | Reuters</a>). Based on his quotes, Fisker wants an experienced work force to start with.<br /><br />Fisker is hoping to close the deal on the plant and the Union before the beginning of next year. <br /><br />They are looking to export half of the units built in the new/old plant, which is expected to reach 100,000 units annually.<br /><blockquote>"These guys seem to have it together. If you look at speed of execution for a start-up, it seems sort of amazing what they can do," Gettelfinger (head of the UAW) said.<br /><br />"We're very hopeful that we'll be able to represent workers there," he said.<br /></blockquote>

Fisker Working With UAW to Work in Delaware Plant

Fisker is negotiating with the UAW to begin working in the GM plant they are in the midst of buying in Delaware. I'd say it's surpr...

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Fisker Goes to Delaware

Fisker has made it official, have signed a letter of intent to buy the Delaware auto plant, formerly owned by GM. The 'affordable' plug-in hybrid vehicle they hope to build there will be the end result of Project NINA. Fisker estimates the plug-in hybrid sedan will cost $39,900 after federal tax credits (so, the MSRP will be $7,500 more than that).<br /><br />Fisker executives made the announcement alongside Vice President Joe Biden, Delaware Governor Jack Markell and other state officials inside the plant.<br /><br />Fisker hopes to begin production in 2012. They also estimate Project NINA will create or support 2,000 factory jobs and more than 3,000 vendor and supplier jobs by 2014, with 75,000 to 100,000 vehicles a year in production.<br /><br />The Wilmington, Delaware plant was selected for its size, production capacity, world-class paint facilities, access to shipping ports, rail lines and available skilled workforce.<br /><br />"This is a major step toward establishing America as a leader of advanced vehicle technology," said Henrik Fisker, CEO. "Wilmington is perfect for high quality, low volume production and will soon be the proud builder of world-class, fuel-efficient Fisker plug-in hybrids."<br /><br />The cost to buy the plant is set at $18 million, and will happen after a four-month evaluation period. Fisker plans on spending another $175 to retool and refurbish the plant.<br /><br />Funds for the plant are coming from the $528.7 Million loan from the Dept of Energy. The loan was given out as part of the $25 Billion Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing program created by Congress.<br /><br />"With our close-knit business, government, and educational communities and our potential to respond rapidly to new opportunities, today's announcement is a testament to what works best in Delaware. Fisker is a perfect partner in shaping Delaware's economic future, and we are thrilled that the vehicle that can reshape the automobile industry will be built here in Delaware, by Delaware workers." said Governor Jack Markell (D-Delaware).<br /><br />Gary Casteel, UAW director responsible for the plant, said, "It gives me great pride to give UAW Local 435 workers the opportunity to partner with Fisker Automotive to create a greener America by building a plug-in hybrid car that will compete globally."

Fisker Goes to Delaware

Fisker has made it official, have signed a letter of intent to buy the Delaware auto plant, formerly owned by GM. The 'affordable' ...

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Fisker May be Going to Delaware?

Fisker Automotive announced they would be making an announcement on where their next automotive plant would be located this week. But the cat may be out of the bag. (Source: <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20091023/BUSINESS/910230362/1003">Delawareonline</a>)<br /><br />The Boxwood Road plant near Newport may be the new site for Fisker. They have toured the plant, idled since GM closed the plant in July. Fisker intends to build as many as 100,000 electric hybrid sedans annually at the site starting in 2012.<br /><br />The 3.2 million square foot plant was used to produce the Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky and Opel GT sports car.<br /><br />Any sale would have to be approved in bankruptcy court, since GM left the plant behind during their bankruptcy.<br /><br />Fisker received a federal loan for several hundred million which is expected to be used to renovate the plant.

Fisker May be Going to Delaware?

Fisker Automotive announced they would be making an announcement on where their next automotive plant would be located this week. But the c...

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Fisker Plug-in Hybrid Wake Up Call For GM

<a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://earth2tech.com/2009/09/15/ray-lane-fisker-to-make-major-announcement-about-39k-plug-in-hybrid/">Earth2tech</a> caught an investor who let the cat out of the bag on Fiskers future plans.  It seems they want a plug-in hybrid in production by 2012.  The kicker is, they want to price it at $39,000.<br /><br />That's very significant.  The Chevy Volt is supposed to go on sale at around $40,000 a pop.  GM will also have the Volt out 2 years sooner than the Fisker model will appear.  And it looks like none of the other major automakers will have their own plug-in on the road sooner than GM will.<br /><br />Which, I'm sure, makes GM very happy.  After noting the success of the Toyota Prius, and realizing that like everyone else, they can't beat or match the price/fuel efficiency/image of the Prius, GM looked to leapfrog the competition by building up the Volt.<br /><br />But it looks like that leapfrog is going to be a lot smaller jump than they wanted.  If Fisker, a small niche automaker can get a plug-in hybrid in to production at about the same price range, what does that say for the possibility that Honda, Toyota, or Ford could do the same and possibly for less?<br /><br />And, while GM should be happy they are going to be first, that doesn't give them the head start they wanted.  Look at the Insight and the Prius.  One took off, while the other stagnated.<br /><br />No, if I were GM, I'd be a little bit worried about the Fisker plug-in.<br /><br />If they are to succeed with the Volt, they are going to have to look at the plan Toyota followed to make the Prius a success.<br /><br />One, they need to take the long view.  The Prius was not an overnight success.  It took a decade for it to really catch on and become a cultural phenomenon.<br /><br />Two, they have to keep the price tag down as much as they can.  The Prius was not sold for a profit for years.  Can GM afford to wait until they can sell even one Volt and say they made money off of it?  Can they afford not to?<br /><br />Three, push hard to make the Volt as good as they can at first, then push hard to simplify.  The Prius was made as fuel efficient as they could using the technology they could.  It was also made as well as they could.  You didn't hear about massive battery failures, or the electronics failing or the brakes failing on huge numbers of cars.  Toyota also included some luxury and tech items which, I'm sure, kept the losses up for Toyota, not down.  But the buyers who eventually made the Prius a success wanted those items.  Prius buyers were older, more conservative and more affluent than you might expect.  GM should expect Volt buyers to be the same, if not more so given the price they're going to have to pay.<br /><br />Four, diversify the product, but at reasonable levels.  Use the research and technology and place it into other vehicles.  Test out some options.  Toyota now has more hybrid models than anyone else.  Not only does that help to spread out the cost, it also helps you test out different types of models.<br /><br />But don't do it like Honda has done it.  Honda deliberately tries something very different every time, while Toyota looks to try subtle differences each time.  They focus on fuel efficiency, but after that anything goes but only in small doses.  Luxury, power increase, etc...  Honda has emphasize in each of their hybrid models extremely different things.  The first was a two-seater, but very fuel efficient.  Then the Civic was the mainstream model.  Then the Accord was the muscle car, with not enough muscle.  Then the Insight II was the cheaper version of the Prius.  Two of those models are already gone by the wayside.<br /><br />Or GM could model itself after Ford and spread the Volt across the same model, just different brands.  Ford created the Escape Hybrid, rolled it out to Mazda (barely) and Mercury, and left it at that.  They continued refining the process, but at the same time, they limited the number of sales and production.  That kept them from losing too much at any one time.  Then, once they got the cost down, they rolled it out to the Milan and Fusion.  But that's a cautious approach and one that will leave GM in second or third place in the new plug-in hybrid world, something they seem desparate to avoid.<br /><br />And finally, focus in on fuel efficiency at a practical size.  The Toyota Prius wasn't the most fuel efficient vehicle.  Nor was it the most luxurious hybrid.  Nor was it the largest hybrid.  No, it's just the most fuel efficient hybrid at just the right size.   That's why the Prius has beat out all the others.  That's how it became the image of fuel efficiency, despite not being the most fuel efficient.<br /><br />So, can GM do all that in the post bailout world?  Can they afford to lose money on the Volt for years?  Can they figure out fuel efficiency first?  Can they spread out the technology even as it loses money?  Can they keep the price down as much as they can, while still building the Volt as well as they possibly can?  We'll just have to wait and see.

Fisker Plug-in Hybrid Wake Up Call For GM

Earth2tech caught an investor who let the cat out of the bag on Fiskers future plans.  It seems they want a plug-in hybrid in production by...

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Fisker Expects Karma Rated at 67 mpg

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a alt="Fisker Karma Plug-in Hybrid is Going to Frankfurt" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3lxEy5C3mZ6AuQIeMevlR2KJzYetcZcJRj6EQddGJYYGU8JKAqAJ-eN5M-dqhfGhjGgHHiaA29HF8UQfpR-1oQyuzB-L0AugAnjI9loErhHp1TNDD9L5cQLPC1_C0YPsdnQFbnKs1YNM/s1600-h/Fisker_Karma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" title="Fisker Karma Plug-in Hybrid is Going to Frankfurt"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3lxEy5C3mZ6AuQIeMevlR2KJzYetcZcJRj6EQddGJYYGU8JKAqAJ-eN5M-dqhfGhjGgHHiaA29HF8UQfpR-1oQyuzB-L0AugAnjI9loErhHp1TNDD9L5cQLPC1_C0YPsdnQFbnKs1YNM/s320/Fisker_Karma.jpg" /></a></div>Fisker Automotive will be bringing the Karma plug-in hybrid electric sports car to the Frankfurt Auto Show in September. Fisker expects half of all their sales will occur in Europe.<br /><br />Fisker expects the Karma to be rated at 83g CO2/km and 3.5L/100km (67 mpg), but take those numbers with a lot of salt. The EPA and European equivalents really need to work on a different standard for range extended electric vehicles (electric vehicles and plug-ins). If you put in a gallon of gas into your car and expect to go 67 miles on it, you're going to be way off.<br /><br />Even in the long run, that number is meaningless. If you drive under 40-50 miles a day (the all electric range for the Karma), you're going to use a lot less fuel, if any, than if you drive 60, 70 or hundreds of miles between plugging in. The gas engine will recharge the battery after it is depleted, so how much fuel you use will be completely up to the driver.

Fisker Expects Karma Rated at 67 mpg

Fisker Automotive will be bringing the Karma plug-in hybrid electric sports car to the Frankfurt Auto Show in September. Fisker expects hal...

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