(Credit:
TARDEC)
The U.S. Army is testing a new diesel hybrid vehicle called the Clandestine Extended Range Vehicle (CERV) designed for quick-paced special operations-type missions such as reconnaissance, surveillance, and targeting--all the while conserving fuel.
The vehicle was developed jointly by Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide and the U.S. Army's Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) National Automotive Center, with funding support through the U.S. Special Operations Command.
The CERV pairs the Quantum's new "Q-Force" advanced all-wheel-drive diesel hybrid electric power train with a light-weight chassis to produce a torque rating that exceeds 5,000 foot-pounds. The unit can maintain speeds of 80 miles per hour and climb 60 percent grades--all while reducing fuel consumption by up to 25 percent compared to a conventional alternative, according to the company. The CERV is fitted with a distinctive weapons ring that allows gunners to deliver a high rate of fire while traveling at high speeds through rough terrain (PDF).
"In keeping with the nation's interest in pursuing an agenda that promotes energy security while increasing fuel efficiency and use of alternate sources of power, TARDEC is fully engaged in ambitious programs that push development of hybrid electric vehicles for U.S. military use," according to Army product literature.
Quantum may be best known for its gasoline plug-in hybrid, called the Q-Drive, and the Fisker Karma four-door sports sedan, developed by Fisker Automotive, a company co-founded by Quantum and Henrik Fisker.
I am excited about our "new military special operations vehicle that is well-positioned to create another highly fuel-efficient and powerful platform that improves the military's tactical capabilities," said Quantum CEO and President Alan P. Niedzwiecki. "We believe that the CERV program offers innovative solutions to meet the mission of the national defense effort, while reducing the fuel logistic burden."
Fisker's first car, the Karma, is set to be released next year. Its Delaware plant is set to make its next luxury car, which will also be a plug-in hybrid.
(Credit: Fisker Automotive)Upstart carmaker Fisker Automotive on Tuesday said it will purchase a plant in Wilmington, Del., to make a plug-in hybrid sedan.
The facility, which used to be a General Motors factory, will begin manufacturing a plug-in hybrid in late 2012, which the company expects will cost almost $40,000 after federal tax credits. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Delaware Gov. Jack Markell are scheduled to speak at an announcement ceremony on Tuesday morning.
Production of Fisker's "family-oriented" car, called Project Nina, will result in 2,000 factory jobs. The company anticipates making 75,000 to 100,000 cars per year by 2014. "Wilmington is perfect for high-quality, low-volume production," CEO Henrik Fisker said in a statement.
The Wilmington assembly plant, closed in July this year, produced a handful of relatively low-volume cars from GM's shed brands, including the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky.
Fisker's first car, called the Karma, is a high-end luxury car priced at about $88,000. The Karma, which is will be manufactured in Europe, will be available in the middle of next year.
Fisker Automotive received $528.7 million from a Department of Energy loan in September, which will fund the purchase of the factory from GM. The company expects to buy the plant for $18 million and spend another $175 million to retool the factory over the next three years.
The technology used by Fisker, called an extended-range electric vehicle or series hybrid, is similar to that used by General Motors' Chevy Volt. The Karma will go 50 miles on batteries, and then a gasoline engine will run a generator for longer rides, for a total range 300 miles.
The Fisker Karma at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in August.
(Credit: Fisker Automotive)Fisker Automotive has been awarded $528.7 million in U.S. Department of Energy loans to develop a more affordable plug-in hybrid for U.S. production.
The hybrid car start-up company is indeed developing a $39,000 plug-in hybrid electric car, as CNET News predicted last week.
Fisker currently refers to the mystery car as "Project Nina."
The majority of the funds, which were awarded from the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program, will be put toward developing and building production facilities for the Nina car in the U.S.
Nina's development and production will employ an estimated 5,000 U.S. workers counting indirect jobs from suppliers as well as direct Fisker employment, the company said Tuesday.
Fisker recently introduced the Karma, a luxury hybrid sedan that sells for about $87,900. A small portion of the Department of Energy funds will go toward further developing production facilities for the Karma in the U.S.
The Nina plug-in electric hybrid price of $39,000, is the estimate after government rebates are factored in to the price. While that price point would not be considered "affordable" to the average U.S. car buyer, it is an affordable price for plug-in hybrids and electric cars, which are not yet produced in large volume. Tesla's Model S electric sedan, in comparison, costs an estimated $50,000 to $56,400 after rebates. Tesla was awarded $465 million in loans from the same Department of Energy fund in June to build production facilities for the Model S.
Using the federal loans, Fisker hopes to produce 100,000 "Nina" cars annually in the U.S. starting in 2012. And while the cars will carry made-in-the-U.S.A. bragging rights, Fisker hopes to sell many of the cars elsewhere too.
"A significant percentage will be exported, helping to balance the U.S. trade deficit," Fisker said.
The Fisker Karma at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in August.
(Credit: Fisker Automotive)American start-up Fisker Automotive may be about to unveil the first truly affordable plug-in hybrid for the U.S. market.
Ray Lane, managing partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, told an audience at the Always On Going Green conference in Sausalito, Calif., on Tuesday that there could be a big announcement within the next week about a $39,000 plug-in hybrid. Though he would not say who, he mentioned that it was a car for the U.S. market and that it was not strictly electric, according to a report from Cleantech Group.
While Kleiner Perkins has investments in several transportation start-ups such as Think Global and EEStor, the likely company from its repertoire to make such an announcement would be Fisker Automotive.
Fisker has already unveiled the Karma, a four-door luxury plug-in car that can go from 0-62 mph in 6 seconds, and has a maximum speed of 125 mph. But Fisker has set the tentative price for the car at $87,900, making it not much cheaper than Tesla's Roadster sports car.
Fisker CEO Henrik Fisker also told CNET in an exclusive May 2008 interview that advances in battery and software technology would allow his company to offer a $40,000 plug-in car in about four or five years.
Perhaps that day has come sooner than the founder was willing to let on at the time.
But it may not be as soon as others have speculated. Fisker's European press office sent out an e-mail on Monday informing journalists the company has canceled a press conference originally scheduled for this week at the 2009 Frankfurt auto show.
The Fisker Karma comes around turn 2 at the Mazda Laguna Seca raceway.
(Credit: Mike Markovich/CNET)Before the Monterey Historics, the race for vintage cars that takes place every year in conjunction with the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the plug-in hybrid Fisker Karma took a lap around the Mazda Laguna Seca raceway. To be chronologically accurate, the Karma should have taken its lap last, but it did prove that the car really works. With its gas-electric Q-drive hybrid system, the Karma was able to complete its lap under electric power alone, reaching 100 mph on the straightaway in front of the grandstand. The Karma entered the track at turn 5, completed one lap, and came back in. As it has an electric range of 50 miles under normal driving conditions, it probably used a good portion of its charge on this demanding track. With its gas engine used as a generator, it has a total range of 300 miles.
The Karma is a plug-in hybrid with four doors and a GT-style body.
(Credit: CNET)Among the different alternative-fuel strategies playing out, Henrik Fisker is betting big on plug-in hybrids. At a recent dinner speech, he said plug-in hybrids, or PHEVs, will be the dominant type of car for the next 10 to 15 years. And he has reason to hope that will be the case as his start-up company, Fisker Automotive, launches the Karma sedan, with its PHEV power train, in June of next year.
Fisker gained fame as an automotive designer for BMW, where he came up with the stunning Z8, and with Aston Martin, designing the DB9 and Vantage. This background explains the very nonsedan looks of the the Karma, which is styled like a GT.
Henrik Fisker speaks about his favorite topic, cars.
(Credit: CNET)But starting up a car company is no easy task, and Fisker says it wouldn't have been possible 10 years ago. And not only are the troubles of current major automakers creating an opening, but the pressing need to reduce our reliance on oil is allowing a new era of automotive innovation.
The big automakers have an infrastructure that would be very hard to build up without huge amounts of capital, so Fisker Automotive went about designing the Karma by looking for preexisting parts. Early on, the company partnered with Southern California-based Quantum Technologies, which had already built a series hybrid-drive concept for the military.
This hybrid system, called Q-Drive, uses two rear-drive motors, a lithium ion battery pack that runs longitudinally down the center of the car, and a gasoline engine as a range extender under the hood. The Q-Drive produces 400 horsepower and has already undergone significant testing by Quantum Technologies.
Fisker Automotive isn't building the engine, either, instead purchasing it from GM. It's a turbocharged four-cylinder currently being used in the Pontiac Solstice GXP. The battery pack will come from Enerdel, and the Karma will be built on a contract basis by the Finnish company, Valmet. Having another company actually build the cars might seem questionable, but Valmet already proved itself as a contract builder with the Porsche Boxster and Cayman.
The Karma is supposed to go 50 miles on electric power only, after which the engine will kick in to power the electric motor. The driver will be able to choose between stealth and sport modes, as Fisker calls them, with the latter relying on more electricity generated by the gas engine to go from 0 to 60 mph in under 6 seconds. Fisker pointed out that the power train is currently being tested around the company's Irvine, California headquarters in pick-up truck mules.
A solar roof will come standard in the vehicle, which, in a sunny climate, adds 7 to 8 miles per week of drive time. Cabin technology in the Karma is controlled with a 10.5-inch touch screen with haptic feedback.
The Karma will be offered in three trims, dubbed Eco Standard, Eco Sport, and Eco Chic, ranging from $80,400 to $98,900, after a $7,500 PHEV tax credit. The Eco Chic model does away with leather seats standard in the other models in favor of vegetarian-friendly materials and salvaged wood.
Fisker also said the company is working on a new model, with the idea that it would be an affordable mass-market car, but still using the Q-Drive PHEV system.
EnerDel has signed an agreement to supply lithium-ion batteries for electric carmaker Fisker Automotive's planned Fisker Karma.
Indianapolis-based EnerDel announced the letter of intent on Friday, a few hours before state senator Evan Bayh is scheduled to dedicate a new production line for auto batteries. The supply deal is contingent on reliability and performance testing. A Fisker Karma will be at the inauguration.
The Fisker Karma
(Credit: Fisker Automotive)The Fisker Karma is a four-door luxury car, priced at about $88,000, that runs on batteries and gets about 100 miles per gallon. It will have an internal combustion gas engine to charge the batteries for rides longer than 50 miles.
The electric-powered Karma will be available at dealers in June next year in the U.S. Fisker plans to open a European dealer network as well.
For EnerDel, the supply deal could mean as many as 15,000 battery packs, which is the number of Karmas that Fisker plans to build per year.
The company had a contract to supply Think, a maker of an all-electric town car, but Think's production plans have been changed because of financial problems.
Electric-car maker Fisker Automotive said on Tuesday it has reached an agreement to receive $85 million for additional development and manufacturing of its plug-in electric luxury sedan.
Investors are Eco-Drive (Capital) Partners, a New York-based consortium, and venture capital company Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, which is an existing investor.
Fisker Automotive's first car will be the Fisker Karma, a plug-in electric sedan due by the end of this year that will cost $87,900 before tax credits. The company also plans to develop a lower-cost car in the future.
The Karma will be able to go about 50 miles on lithium ion batteries and have a 2-liter gasoline engine that will act as a generator for longer rides. The full range will be 300 miles.
Earlier this year, the Irvine, Calif.-based company said it has set up a network of 30 retailers to distribute the Karma in the U.S.
On a test track in Southern California, a radical new car is getting its first workout.
The zebra stripes camouflage it from competitors, but you still get a good sense of the Fisker Automotive Karma, the brainchild of designer Henrik Fisker, who's trying to succeed where Detroit so far has failed, CBS News business correspondent Anthony Mason reports.
"The vision is to do a high performance, luxurious, sexy-looking car which gets better miles per gallon than the Prius," Fisker said.
The Karma is a plug-in hybrid. It can go 50 miles on an electrical charge before a gas engine kicks in to power its lithium ion battery.
"The average driver will get something around 100 miles per gallon," Fisker said.
The Karma's top speed is 125 mph. The initial price tag: $80,000. But within a few years, Fisker hopes to produce a $40,000 version of this lean, green machine.
It's got other Earth-friendly features.
"The entire roof's a solar panel," Fisker said. "Actually it's the first curved solar panel in the world."
The Danish-born Fisker, who was a designer at BMW and Aston Martin, then owned by Ford, grew frustrated by the bureaucracy at the big car companies, so he started his own.
"We don't have the overhead that plagues a lot of the large car companies. And we can move extremely fast," he said.
Unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show in January, the Karma is scheduled to become the first plug-in hybrid on the road late next year, well ahead of Chevy's Volt.
For all the debate over whether the U.S. government should bail out Ford, GM and Chrysler, consider the biggest investor in Fisker is the Persian Gulf nation of Qatar. They've poured nearly $60 million into the car.
When the U.S. rescue package is discussed, the California-based Fisker is never mentioned.
Should the government be giving them some of the money?
"I think they should actually because we are pioneers," Fisker said. "We are coming out, leading the way and showing how it could be done."
Small, nimble and fast--in the future the American auto industry may need to look a lot like Fisker.
Electric car company Tesla Motors will not continue its trade secret suit against rival car maker Fisker Automotive, following an arbitrator's ruling in Fisker's favor.
Fisker Automotive said on Monday that an arbitrator found an interim award in favor of Fisker Automotive and the auto design company which had done work for Tesla last year.
Tesla's communications manager on Monday said that the company will not pursue the case because the arbitrator's ruling was binding.
The case dates back to April of this year, when Tesla Motors filed a suit against famed designer Henrik Fisker's design firm for allegedly taking confidential design information about Tesla's upcoming luxury sedan during a consulting engagement.
Fisker Automotive responded in May when it filed for arbitration. The contract between Fisker and Tesla had a clause that required that any disputes be handled through arbitration in Orange County, Calif., within 90 days, according to Fisker. Tesla filed its suit against Fisker in San Mateo Superior Court.
According to Fisker, the case's arbitrator said that "Tesla's assertion of violations of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act by Fisker were baseless and neither brought nor pursued in good faith."
Fisker Automotive said that it is still on target to release its plug-in hybrid high-end sports sedan by the end of 2009.
The Tesla representative said the result does not affect Tesla's operations. The company raised $40 million in convertible debt on Sunday in an effort to improve its low cash position and accelerate sales of its Roadster electric sports car.
