There has been plenty of media buzz about the Tesla recently, the electric car that matches a Ferrari on performance and price tag – but now another new eco-car start-up will be aiming to grab some of the limelight for themselves.
Plans were revealed this month for a plug-in hybrid, four-door sports sedan, known at the moment as the Quantum Fisker. The car will make use of a hybrid system developed by Quantum Technologies, fitted into a chassis created by Fisker Automotive – a company headed by Henrik Fisker, a designer who had a hand in creating sports cars such as the BMW Z8, Aston Martin DB9 & V8 Vantage.
Performance details of the hybrid battery have yet been releases, but customers will be able to charge the car in any standard 110volt output, or purchase optional solar rechargers. A fast-charging solar carport will be offered as a dealer option, and a solar roof panel will be offered as a factory installed option to provide power for ventilation when parking, pre-air conditioning of the vehicle and trickle charging of the vehicle batteries.
The car is slated to first go on show at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit in January 2008, with the first cars going on sale at the end of 2009 with a price tag of around $100,000 – similar to the price tag of the Tesla Roadster.
Future cars from the Quantum Fisker venture are also likely to include hydrogen powered vehicles. Currently the organization specialize in adapting standard vehicles into hybrid or hydrogen cars, their creations have included a hydrogen powered Hummer, a natural gas powered Chevy Silverado and even a hydrogen refueling truck.
Recently the US army ordered six Ford Escape Hydrogen Hybrid vehicles for their auto research division, and earlier in the year, Quantum hydrogen vehicles were delivered to Norway, where a ‘hydrogen highway’, which will have five hydrogen re-fuelling stations along the route, is being created between Oslo and Stavanger.
