Fisker Atlantic Plug In Hybrid Unveiled As Challenges Mount

by

Fisker Automotive has taken the wraps off its “Nina” extended-range luxury electric vehicle as the 2012 New York Auto Show begins to kick off. Now called the Atlantic, the vehicle promises to deliver additional revenue to the niche green car manufacturer, provided it can navigate the choppy waters it currently finds itself in.

The Fisker Atlantic, the automaker said, is a four-door sporting sedan with what is described as a “luxurious and practical interior.” It is said to be aimed at young families, and makes use of second generation “EVer” (electric vehicle with extended range) technology that essentially makes it a plug-in hybrid and reportedly fights off that range anxiety issue some drivers have with traditional electric cars.

image via Fisker Automotive

Specifics on mileage and pricing are yet to be released by Fisker, but what we do know is that the vehicle makes use of a four-cylinder gas engine which acts as a generator and is not mechanically connected to the wheels. The Atlantic, according to Fisker, “allows drivers to switch manually or automatically between electric and gasoline driving modes and sustain the charge of its lithium ion batteries on the move.” It will include rear wheel drive with an all-wheel drive option.

The prototype showed off at the New York Auto Show includes a glass roof described as having a “ridged spider structure” that is built of strong construction and offers a good amount of rear headroom. The vehicle will likely also have all the technological bells and whistles one would expect a luxury car like this can, and should, offer for what will probably be a hefty price tag.

Pages: 1 2

Posted on April 4th, 2012 · Comment ↓

Tags , ,

Posted in Hybrids, Transportation

  • rabid robert

    Electric cars ars a smart idea; but a very smart idea is to make one

    the average American can buy.

  • Mdcrawfish

    We’re still very early in the development of electric cars. They are still too expensive for what you get. This is a nice looking car. I wonder how involved the oil companies are in preventing further development. They have a lot to lose if we move in this direction. 

    • markmedown

      I don’t think the oil companies are too concerned. It would be years to convert to electric vehicles that it would have a significant impact on the oil companies.

      • Nz_brian

        Like when an oil company, Chevron iirc, brought up the patent for automobile metal hydride batteries and promptly forces Panasonic to shut down and disassemble its plant making batteries for Toyota’s Rav-4E, a popular all electric being sold in California some time ago. Why all electric vehicles had to wait for Li-on batteries to come to market.

  • steelers153
  • Vascopolis

    I DON’T UNDERSTAND…

    Ecconomy? Your gasoline goes to zero and your electric bill skyrockets…
    Clean Air? Trade off (low) auto emmissions for massive coal fired, oil fired and atomic power plant emmissions and dangers which ZERO OUT ANY GAIN.
    Reduce depency on oild ??? NO WAY, instead of burning a gallon in the car, you burn a gallon at the power plant.

    AND, currently, as gas stations are prevalent, and charging stations are not, you “waste” electricity getting to a charging location out-of-the-way.

    So…………. WHY?

    • LEAF owner

       As an owner of a Nissan LEAF, I can tell you that your electric bill does not skyrocket.  The electric car is vastly more efficient.  For the first 1000 miles, I drove at 4.6 miles / kWh.  So I used approximately 217 kWh of electricity.  Including distribution, my electric bill as approximately 13 cents per kWh.  Which comes to about $28.26 of electricity to go 1000 miles.  For comparison, my old Honda Accord got about 25 MPG which means that 1000 miles would have been about 40 gallons of gasoline.  At $3.50 per gallon, that would have cost me about $140. . . .

      So it is not a wash — it is not the equivalent of burning a gallon at the power plant or a gallon in the car.  Not to mention, most charging is done at home in the evening when the power would be wasted anyway.  There is very little traveling out of the way.

      The savings are real.  The efficiency is real.  The emissions benefits are real.

      P.S.:  You’ve never driven out of the way to find a cheaper gas station?

  • rickster

    This Fisher Karma vehicles are a little retarded proposition 100K+ price tag….20 mi electric….and 0-60 in 6.4 sec…for 100K.. this is as fast as a 20K gasoline car…+ the risk to catch fire due to the a123 batteries……..on the other hand the car looks good….but they need to learn from tesla…..