Plug-in Hybrid Makes 100mpg Possible

Fisker Automotive’s debut model, the 2010 Fisker Karma, is anticipated to be the first plug-in hybrid car to market when early production vehicles come off the assembly line late this year.

The 2010 Karma, planned to retail for $87,900 before tax credits, is designed to travel roughly 50 miles emission-free, powered by a Lithium-ion battery that can be charged in a few hours from any 110- or 240-volt household outlet. After 50 miles, a 2.0 liter gasoline engine runs a generator that can power the car’s electric motors for another 250 miles before refueling.

Most people don’t drive more than 50 miles for a typical roundtrip between home and work, so the gasoline generator may never kick in for a common workday. This balance of electric and gas range makes it possible that Karma drivers who charge their car in the evening and commute fewer than 50 miles a day will achieve an average fuel economy of 100 mpg over the course of a year. [Fisker Automotive]

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