On the 2012 Fisker Karma EVer

Fisker has never recieved quite the fanfare of Tesla, but their novel approach to green transportation should be turning some heads. After years of Fisker Karma delays, satirized by the EVCast, we might finally start seeing some of these luxury plug-in hybrids rolling around eco-chic areas in the US.  Deliveries have begun in the US in late 2011, and hopefully they will pick up in 2012.

EVer stands for “electric vehicle extended range,” meaning the vehicle can drive completely electric until it runs out of juice and needs to be recharged by the on-board gasoline powered generator.  Fisker’s EVer technology uses a state-of-the-art Nanophosphate Lithium-ion Battery pack to power two electric motors at the rear wheels.  The EPA rated all-electric range for the Fisker Karma at 32 mi (51 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. They found that a full tank of gas and battery would get about 230 miles.  Fisker is still confident the vehicle will get 50 miles electric under optimal conditions.  An independent German association actually found the car did indeed get 50 miles in “stealth” mode, basically the energy efficient setting.

Electric Power

The battery is a 22 kWh lithium ion unit supplied by A123 Technologies.  When the battery get low, it is replenished by a 175 kW generator, turned by a 2.2 L gasoline engine. The solar roof is  actually capable of generating a half kilowatt-hour a day, although this is naturally succepable to be inconsistent.  Some estimate the roof can provide up to 4 to 5 miles (6.4–8.0 km) of additional range a week assuming continuously sunny days.

Performance

The Fisker Karma can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 6.3 seconds and has a top speed of 125 mph.  The dual electric motors put about 1000 lbs/ft of torque at the wheels, which is instantly available at 0 RPM.  The 260 HP 4-cylinder direct injection engine that spools the generator is a surprisingly powerful motor only used for electricity generation.

Charge Time

Charge time can be anywhere from 6-14 hours, which varies with battery’s remaining charge capacity and whether 110v, 220v or 240v current is used.

Green Extras

• The Karma’s wood trim is 100% sustainably sourced from Fallen, Sunken and Rescued Wood to ensure that no live growth is ever used.
• Xenon headlights are standard as well as low energy LED lights everywhere else on the vehicle.
• Seating foam is fashioned from soy-based bio fiber and the carpet backing is created from recycled post-consumer materials.
• Optional leather is sourced form a closed loop manufacturing plant where 85% of the hide is humanely used.
• Water based Diamond Dust paint features a recycled glass flake mixture that utilizes 35-55% recycled glass while releasing zero volatile organic compounds into the environment. The paint also features an invisible reflective infrared layer to help cool the interior during hot weather.

Price

As of December 2011, pricing in the U.S. starts at US$102,000 for the basic model, and US$116,000 for the high-end model.

Here is a Road&Track Review of the Fisker Karma EVer:

For more information, check out the Fisker site.

Tesla Model S: The Classes and Options

Tesla has become world renown for their superior performance electric vehicles. The Roadster put them on the map as the first production electric car that was actually refined, cool, and exciting. The heir to the awesome electric car throne, the Model S, will finally be delivered in 2012. The Model S sedan is targeted at electric vehicle fans with funds and maybe a couple kids. Remarkably, the base model will remain under their original target price of $50,000, at $49,900 after the $7,500 federal tax credit for electric vehicles purchased in or after 2010.

Tesla is providing a slew of classes and options for this electric sedan in hopes of capturing the absurdly rich and the upper middle class market share, so read closely.  There are four classes of Model S: the Model S (plain, vanilla), the Model S Performance, the Model S Signature, and the Model S Signature Performance. On top of that, the plain Model S version has three, liquid cooled, lithium ion battery options, at 40, 60, and 85kWh. The other three classes (Performance, Signature, Signature Performance) all have the 85 kWh battery, standard, which pushes their ranges to a whopping 300 miles per charge. The 40 kWh option gives 160 miles and a 0-60 of 6.5 seconds, the 60 kWh battery puts out 230 miles and 5.9 seconds. The 85 Kwh pack gives you a 0-60 in 5.6.  With the performance option that drops down to 4.4 seconds.  The Signature label  doesn’t necessarily enhance performance, but they are limited edition and available mid-2012, a few months earlier than the non-Signature class.  They also carry about a $30,000-$50,000 premium over the base model.

All of the Model S classes will feature a 17-inch touch screen monitor which will contain media, GPS, and communications.  The 200 watt stereo system will have radio, satellite radio, and USB ports.  No CD player though, that’s so 20th century.

If you opt for the Signature series, you get the Tech Package standard, which includes xenon lights, keyless entry, LED foglamps, turn by turn navigation, power rear liftgate, back camera, rear USB ports, homelink, and electrochromatic side mirrors.  A premium stereo system is also standard in the Signature class, and 1,000 bucks otherwise.

All Model S cars plug directly into 110 and 240 volt outlets with the Universal Mobile Connector and adapters. The High Power Wall Connector, which installs in your garage, enables cars equipped with Twin Chargers to charge twice as fast as cars equipped with a Single Charger.  Cars equipped with a 60 or 85 kWh battery can use Tesla’s network of Supercharger stations.

Hope this helps clarify the many options and models of the Model S.  For more information, visit Tesla’s Specifications page.

Will the BYD E6 Finally Become a Reality?

BYD Auto has been a hot topic for green geeks and business savvy investors for the past few years.  We started writing about them in 2008, pronouncing them the “sleeping giant” of China. There was strong interest from investors like Warren Buffet, and Portland, Oregon wanted to establish a BYD headquarters in their city. Several setbacks and slow starts later, BYD is still very much in a morning stupor.

The good news is in the technical details of BYD’s E6 crossover.  BYD’s Fe battery gives the E6 a range of 186 miles per charge and the vehicle’s top speed of 87 MPH makes it highway capable.  BYD touts their Fe lithium iron phosphate battery as fully recyclable and quick charging.  they claim the battery can be fully charged in as little at 40 minutes.  Field testing of their all-electric crossover E6 began in 2010, and sales to the general public in China have only just begun in October of 2011.    Lackluster sales and lack of a charging infrastructure have delayed BYD’s electric takeover in the United States.  In January 2011 BYD announced that the American version will be more powerful than the Chinese version, and it will have a 60 kwh battery pack with a 160 kW electric motor, capable of reaching 60 MPH in less than 8 seconds.  The Chinese company plans to be able to sell the e in America for $35,000, before any government incentives.

BYD e6 Specifications graphic:

Unfortunately for excited electric car fans in America, BYD announced last October that there will be an 18 month delay of retail sales in the United States due to inadequate charging infrastructure. So it doesn’t look like we will see the all-electric e6 or range extended hybrid F3DM and F6DM until at least 2013. These types of setbacks are all too common in revolutionary industries such as electric vehicle manufacturing. It will take time for BYD to integrate but I’m confident they will do so in the future.

Lola-Drayson B12/69EV: The First Electric Le Mans Supercar

Lola and Drayson Racing are working together to create the first all-electric Le Mans race car. Their primary goal, however, is to showcase the electric vehicle’s potential in single lap time trial results. They intend to charge the car through inductive charging and there is no word on any quick stop methods of recharging necessary to compete in longer races.

The electric Le Mans Prototype (LMP) will have 850 horsepower and reach top speeds of over 200 mph. Power for the all electric drivetrain is stored in a new generation of highly advanced Lithium Nanophosphate® battery cells made exclusively by A123 Systems. Each wheel will be powered by four axial flux Oxford YASA motors. The car will have a single gear, which is common for electric vehicles.  On the exterior, the car will look like any of the other LMP, but the team hopes the electric drivetrain will prove superior in single lap time trials.

For more info, check out the Lola Group Q&A.

Info on the Chevy Volt’s Safety Enhancements

Tesla Roadster to be Discontinued

Tesla is  drawing sales of the Tesla Roadster to a close in 2012, primarily to focus on their more subdued and affordable Model S.  As of September 30, 2011, Tesla had sold more than 2,000 Roadsters worldwide and the car maker announced it intends to sell a total of 2,500 units before it discontinues the model in early 2012.  The latest model punched out 295 lbs-ft of torque and 288 horsepower.  The instant torque, electric motor pushes the Roadster to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds.  The EPA reports 245 miles per charge, giving it the longest range of a production electric vehicle ever.  The world distance record of 311 miles was set by a Roadster on October 27, 2009, during the Global Green Challenge in outback Australia, in which it averaged a speed of 25 mph.  At $109,000, the vehicle is really a steal for performance, groundbreaking technology, and rarity.

Elon Musk’s goal from day one has been to provide a “Model T” electric vehicle, an affordable $30,000 electric car with optimal range and performance.  However, as an upstart company without the economy of scale that Ford or GM are endowed with, Tesla produced a premium performance electric vehicle.  Now that the company is one step closer with the Model S, they are stepping away from the successful sports car model.  So is it a wise move? Maybe a couple years ago,  but now that the major manufacturers are entering the electric vehicle segment (Mitsubishi iMiev, Nissan Leaf) and offering plug in hybrids (Chevy Volt, Toyota Prius Plug-in).  Can Tesla successfully sell a sedan while the majors are doing the same with their insurmountable resources and capital?  It is going to be tough without the unique electric vehicle fanfare that the Tesla Roadster once had.

Here is a warm and fuzzy Tesla Roadster video to send it off:

Thrill from Tesla Motors on Vimeo.

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