Fisker Karma Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle with Range Extender 2011

 Fisker Automotive was established in September 2007 when Fisker Coachbuild -- an automotive design house founded by auto designer Henrik Fisker (previous references include Aston Martin DB9, V8 Vantage; BMW Z8; Artega GT) and veteran auto industry executive Bernhard Koehler -- partnered with Quantum Technologies (QTWW), a major Tier 1 supplier of clean vehicle technologies. Global headquarters are in Irvine, California.

 “We started Fisker Automotive because we knew the time had come to change the way we fueled our transportation,” said Fisker. “To be successful, we also knew advanced technology vehicles would have to stir the same emotions that made us fall in love with cars in the first place. By combining a plug-in hybrid powertrain with leading edge design and world-class power Fisker Automotive is the first to create environmentally conscious cars that deliver pure driving passion.”
Fisker Automotive‟s cutting-edge vehicle designs and unique business plan --
 patterned after tech-sector outsource models that keep overhead low and profits high – immediately attracted substantial private equity financing from leading Silicon Valley Venture Capital firms Palo Alto Investors and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. Kleiner Perkins backed such heavyweights as Google, Amazon, AOL and others.

 September 2009 saw Fisker Automotive approved for a $528.7 million conditional loan from the U.S. Department of Energy‟ Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing (ATVM) loan program to accelerate development of plug-in hybrids.

 By the end of May 2010 Fisker Automotive raised more than $320 million in private equity funding. The company has started regular production of the Karma in early 2011 at the VALMET factory in Finland. Nearly 3000 customers had already placed an order with deposit at the time of the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.

The Fisker Karma is a premium plug-in hybrid electric vehicle
Designed and engineered in California, the four-door, four-passenger Karma is a series plug-in hybrid that combines the zero-emission benefits of an all-electric car with the full driving range of a conventional car. It will offer a responsible alternative to those in the market for traditional full size, fully equipped luxury cars.

The Karma’s proprietary Q-Drive® powertrain provides the Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid with a total range of 300 miles (483km), a 0-60mph (100km/h) time of 5.9 seconds, a top speed of 125mph (201km/h). The Fisker Karma can achieve an annual average of more than 100mpg (2.4L/100km) and has low emissions -- 83g CO2/km based on SAE formulae.
Fully charged in as little as six hours from any 110-, 220- or 240-volt outlet the Fisker Karma has an all-electric range of 50 miles (80km), which is more than most people drive each day. Recharged each night the Karma may never use gas. Beyond 50 miles an efficient gasoline engine eliminates Range Anxiety by automatically turning an on-board generator for an additional 250 miles (403km) before refueling and/or recharging.
Q-Drive® consists of a 20 kW/h lithium ion battery with Nanophosphate™ technology; an efficient 260hp Ecotec 2.0 Liter turbocharged Direct Injection gasoline engine turning a 175kW generator; electronic power management systems; and two electric traction motors mounted to a differential between the rear wheels that deliver a combined 403 hp (300kW) and a peak torque rating of 981 lb-ft (1330Nm) at zero rpm.
The battery, developed by A123 Systems of Watertown, Massachusetts, incorporates state-of-the-art nanotechnology. Expected to have a 10-12 year lifespan it can deliver 180 kW (peak) of electric power throughout the charge-depleting range of operation.
The battery’s safe location along the vehicle’s longitudinal centreline keeps it clear of impact areas and lowers the Karma’s centre of gravity for improved handling. Sealed construction protects it from the elements.
Prices start at €85.500 - €98.900 Euros/ $95,900 - $108,900 USD.

The Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid also offers drivers the option of driving in zero-emission, all-electric Stealth Mode or full-power Sport Mode for maximum flexibility.
Defaulting to Stealth Mode on start-up for maximum efficiency, the Karma has a top speed of 95mph (153 km/h) and a 0-60mph (100km/h) time of 7.9 seconds. No gasoline is burned and tailpipe emissions are non-existent.
Sport Mode can be selected on demand via a steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifter that engages the gasoline engine-driven generator for peak power and torque. Top speed increases to 125mph (200km/h) and 0-60mph time quickens to 5.9 seconds.
By engaging Sport Mode, drivers can not only get maximum performance but also conserve full battery power until it is required. This is especially useful when destined for low-emission zones which are growing in number in cities around the world.

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.
Fisker Automotive’s engineering team designed the Karma’s space frame around the car’s unique series-hybrid powertrain, filing for multiple patents in the process.
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.

Fisker Karma Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle with Range Extender 2011 Specifications :

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