The 2012 Fisker Karma is a Beautiful Car. Is the Frame Made of Freaking Concrete?

[wtmusic]

"The ultra-cool, ultra-green Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid is now on sale, and when operating on gas gets…20 miles per gallon? Yes, that’s what the EPA will put on the Karma's window sticker—although you wouldn't know from reading Fisker's press release about the EPA rating, which only talks about the sedan's all-electric mileage equivalent. The major reason for the 20 mpg has to do with weight—the Karma tips the scales at approximately 5,300 pounds.

Some of the Karma’s other EPA numbers aren’t exactly overwhelming: 52 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) when driven by the dual electric motors. The battery range is officially 32 miles—not the 50 Fisker has been touting. The company announced a combined and unofficial 67 MPGe figure in 2009.
Looking for Trouble

The conservative media has its knives out, looking for a follow-up story to Solyndra. As you recall, that's the can't fail solar company that failed and left taxpayers holding the bag. Fisker got $529 million in federal loan money, hence the comparisons. The big difference is that Fisker could be said to be under-performing, but it isn't going bankrupt. Instead, the company is actually launching a car."

http://www.plugincars.com/heavyweight-fisker-karma-gets-20-mpg-gas-108899.html

Another nail in the coffin of the serial-hybrid concept.

[phantom power]

1. "ultra green" and "5300 pounds" are two phrases that do not frequently co-occur

[Fumesucker]

8. I can easily envision a 5300 lb ultra-green flywheel bus ..

Like of like the Gyrobus from back in the early 50's but considerably smaller, much lighter and with modern tech.

Kind of a local jitney that can recharge at traffic lights through inductive coupling or some other remote technology and hold maybe as many passengers as one of those long passenger vans you see around.

Porsche is winning races with the same technology right now.

[Fumesucker]

2. 5300 lbs is damn porky...

For instance the curb weight of a Lexus LS460 is 4350 lbs.

[phantom power]

3. If I'm reading their specs right, the frame is aluminum.

4 cylinder 2.0 liter engine -- not large.

Dunno, maybe their engine block is made from neutronium?

[rfranklin]

4. Batteries are what makes it heavy...

[n2doc]

7. Maybe they are using lead-acid type? n/t

[Indydem]

5. Batteries.

It's always the GD batteries.

The day we have ultralight, ultra portable batteries is the day the ICE goes to hell.

[The Croquist]

6. Ice has gone to hell

It just doesn't last long there.