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Fisker Inc.

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This article is about the company founded in 2016. For the company founded in 2007, see Fisker Automotive. For the company created out of the ashes of Fisker Automotive, see Karma Automotive. For other uses, see Fisker (disambiguation).
Fisker Inc.
Company typePrivate
IndustryAutomotive
Electric Vehicles
FoundedOctober 3, 2016; 8 years ago (2016-10-03)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
FounderHenrik Fisker (Chairman & CEO)
Products
Websitefiskerinc.com

Fisker Inc. is an American electric vehicle automaker founded by Henrik Fisker, launched in 2016 and based in California. Fisker Inc. is a relaunch of the Fisker brand, which previously made the Fisker Karma (now the Karma Revero) under Fisker Automotive (founded in 2007; now part of Karma Automotive). Fisker Inc. has said that it will show its first all-electric vehicle in the second half of 2017, a "spiritual successor" to the Fisker Karma, which will have a 400-mile electric range.[1]

History

Fisker Inc. (2016-present)

File:Fisker Inc Car Prototype 2016.jpg
A 2016 teaser image of the first car to be produced by Fisker Inc.

On October 3, 2016, Henrik Fisker launched Fisker Inc., an American automaker designing and developing innovative electric vehicles with a longer range and lower cost of batteries.[1][2][3] Fisker, the chairman and CEO of Fisker Inc., stated that the company will show its first prototype, a new sporty, spacious, luxury all-electric sedan, in the second half of 2017, which will be a "spiritual successor" to the Fisker Karma electric car. The company will produce a second, mass market, affordable electric vehicle following the first car's launch.[1] Fisker Inc's long-range electric vehicles are targeting a minimum range of 400 miles per charge, which would be a far longer range than any electric vehicle to date.[2][4] As of October 2016, the longest range electric car is on the high-end version of the Tesla Model S, with 315 miles on a single charge.[5] Fisker first stated in July 2016 that he was interested in designing a fully connected electric car with autonomous driving features and an aesthetically pleasing look,[6] and that for the past two years he had been working "in stealth mode" designing "electric cars of the future."[7]

The company aims to reveal a concept version of its first vehicle in the second half of 2017,[2] featuring double butterfly doors and graphene supercapacitors.[8] It is intended to be a luxury vehicle that will be produced in low volumes. It may be built at VLF Automotive, the American automotive company co-founded by Fisker in 2015 with Bob Lutz and Gilbert Villarreal.[5][9] Fisker has estimated that the first vehicle could go into production in 2019.[3]

Fisker Nanotech (2016-present)

Henrik Fisker spent two years analyzing various battery technologies unseen in other electric cars. Finally, he teamed up with various California scientists through Nanotech Energy to create a joint venture called Fisker Nanotech, with Jack Kavanaugh as chairman.[1][5] Rather than working with conventional lithium-ion batteries, Fisker Nanotech has teamed up with researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, who have been developing a next-generation lithium-ion battery technology using graphene, that can increase the amount of power stored in a pack, for an increased range and reduced charging time. Fisker Inc would be the first to bring this technology to market. Fisker Nanotech may also sell their proprietary batteries to other OEMs.[2][5][10]

As of October 2016, graphene is the thinnest and strongest material that has been discovered. The 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov for their research on the material, which led to the study of its potential use for a battery with improved energy conducting and charging capabilities, and a better cycle life, so that the battery will not need to be swapped out as often as a lithium-ion battery. Fisker has stated that Fisker Nanotech is in the process of developing proprietary technology and patenting a machine to produce graphene in a cost-effective manner, combining a supercapacitor with improved energy density and a graphene-based battery to create what they are calling a super battery.[5] Some prototype graphene batteries have been shows to store up to five times as much energy as conventional lithium-ion batteries.[3]

Models

Fisker eMotion

The Fisker eMotion is an all-electric sports car designed by Henrik Fisker for Fisker Inc. revealed in November 2016. The 2017 model car is stated to run 400 mi (640 km) on a single charge.[11] It is to have a top speed of 161 mph (259 km/h). The car will be equipped with a graphene based battery pack from Fisker Nanotech (a joint venture between Fisker Inc. and Nanotech Energy Inc.) The car will be autonomous-driving ready, so that self-driving mode may be activated at some future date.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Hannah Elliott, "Henrik Fisker Is Starting a Namesake Car Company Again," Bloomberg Businessweek, October 3, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d Paul A. Eisenstein, "Tesla's Rival is Back: Fisker Launches All-New Battery-Car Company" NBC News, October 4, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c Paul A. Eisenstein, "Fisker Launching All-New Battery-Car Company" thedetroitbureau.com, October 4, 2016.
  4. ^ Katie Fehrenbacher, "Henrik Fisker Is Launching Another Electric Car Company That Feels Very Familiar" Fortune, October 4, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d e Danielle Muoio, "Henrik Fisker is using a revolutionary new battery to power his Tesla killer" Business Insider, October 16, 2016.
  6. ^ Danielle Muoio, "Legendary car designer Henrik Fisker wants to build a self-driving car" Business Insider, July 7, 2016.
  7. ^ Michael Martinez, "Trio goes full speed ahead on Force 1 in Auburn Hills" Detroit News, August 29, 2016.
  8. ^ "First image of Fisker's new all-electric car, looks like a Karma with butterfly doors". Electrek. October 21, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  9. ^ Danielle Muoio, "Henrik Fisker just released a teaser image of his Tesla rival" Business Insider, October 20, 2016.
  10. ^ Kirby Garlitos, "Henrik Fisker Launches Fisker Inc.," topspeed.com, October 5, 2016.
  11. ^ "Fisker's EMotion sports car, and more in the week that was". inhabitat. engadget. 6 November 2016.
  12. ^ Fred Lambert (31 October 2016). "Fisker officially unveils the design of its new electric car: EMotion". electrek.

See also

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