We here at the Clutch are feeling pretty stoked that we, having named this place after an already threatened piece of technology, are facing further irrelevance as the EV-centric future is quickly becoming the present.
Battery-powered vehicles are nothing new, but it really wasn’t until Tesla hit the scene that EV’s crashed into the mainstream. Since then, virtually every manufacturer is playing catch-up, to varying degrees of success.
Tesla is the current standard-bearer, with the Model S no longer a novelty but a regularly spotted car in most cities. Porsche and Jaguar are following in their path, with a focus on premium luxury and high-end performance unmatched by gas-driven cars.
On the more economical side, Nissan has the *checks notes* Leaf. GM offers the *squints, holds notes upside down* Bolt, and/or the Volt. Meanwhile, Ford’s trying to generate excitement by naming their up-coming crossover after the non-crossover Mustang. Prioritizing practicality and economy over power, these EVs haven’t quite captured the market in the same way their higher-end brethren have. Also, they ugly.
While Tesla had always intended to build electric cars for the masses, they seem to continually get distracted by frivolities and petty competition, resulting in even more powerful (and, more expensive) vehicles. Now, as the current most-valuable manufacturer in the world, maybe that strategy has some merit. At least, if profits were the actual goal, and mainstream adaptability just a mere marketing ploy.
Regardless, while the different auto-makers race to get their EVs to market, a familiar name has reemerged. Fisker first came on the scene when they introduced the Karma back in 2008. The Karma was similar to the Model S in that it showed the promise of what an electric motor could offer. Namely, high torque at low RPMs.
The Fisker Ocean is “the World’s Most Sustainable Vehicle”
One significant difference between the Karma and the Model S, however, was its lack of success. Tesla went on to become a household name. Fisker found itself mired in financial struggles, production issues, and corporate struggles.
Undaunted, the California-based company is betting big on its recently announced SUV, the Fisker Ocean. With SUVs a dominant segment in the auto-market, Fisker hopes to undercut the Tesla Model Y with a lower price and more environmentally-friendly product.
Fisker has dubbed it “the world’s most sustainable vehicle”. That’s thanks to the use of recycled and vegan materials for the interior and has a full-length solar roof. Its 80kwh battery will be good for 250-300 miles. The powertrain will go on to underpin two other vehicles in Fisker’s lineup.
Most importantly, $37,499 before tax credits that can bring the price as low as $29,999. That’s considerably lower than a Model Y. The lease rate will $379/month, compared to Tesla’s $535/month fee. On top of all of this, Fisker plans to sell the Ocean contract-free. Customers can return it after any amount of time without facing penalties.
Manufacturing won’t start until late 2021, so it remains to be seen if the Fisker Ocean will embarrass Hellcat owners the same way that Tesla has.
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