Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Fisker Unveils New Plug-in Hybrid Project
The government will loan Fisker $528 million to bring a luxury sedan and an upcoming family car to market.
By Kevin Bullis
Startup Fisker Automotive has produced a couple of prototype luxury vehicles that also happen to be good for the environment (at least in theory--more below). The federal government is stepping in to help bring them, and some cheaper family cars, to market.
The Department of Energy announced today it will give Fisker a conditional $528 million loan. The first $169.3 million will help with the engineering that still needs to be done before it can start manufacturing its $87,900 luxury sedan next summer. That's something of a delay--Fisker had previously planned to start producing cars later this year.
The remaining money will be for a new project, called Project Nina, which will develop a $39,900 family sedan, Fisker Automotive says.
Both vehicles are plug-in hybrids that are powered by electricity. For short commutes, the car can run on energy stored in a battery that has been charged by plugging it in. For longer trips, an on-board gasoline engine generates electricity.
The environmental benefits of the vehicle--at least the luxury sedan--will depend on how the driver chooses to operate it. In sport mode, which produces the best acceleration, the gas engine is used to boost power even during short commutes. The driver will need to select stealth mode to drive gas-free. I wonder what kind of fuel economy ranking this car will get.
Fisker is predicting annual sales of 100,000 for its cheaper family vehicle, numbers that seem optimistic after the reportedly poor showing of the first plug-in hybrid, made by the Chinese automaker BYD.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Comments
I sincerely hope Fisker has a sufficiently developed business plan to merit a half-billion investment by Uncle Sam. If he does, then there's simply no better time to introduce a disruptive technology into the personal transportation industry. The old guard is still on the ropes, and thier long-held defensive positions are weakened by economic and political realities.
I personally think the big three could have introduced viable EV's decades ago, but only at the risk of canabilizing sales of existing product lines - only competition spurs innovation.
In any case, one of the most exciting things happening in technology today is the transition of the automotive industry from a "heavy" industry to a "light" industry like electronics or silicon valley.
When cars are bought like cell phones we'll all be better off.
paulfmeyer
10/01/2009
Posts:6