C-NET tries to count all the electric car start-ups

C-NET tries to count all the electric car start-ups

C-NET's Michael Kanellos did a little thinking out loud this week when he tried to list all of the electric car start-up companies (not major automakers working on EVs). He counted 16 small companies. The names on this list will be familiar to just about anyone who reads AutoblogGreen, but I thought it was interesting to see them all gathered in one place:Tesla Motors (sports cars), Wrightspeed (sports cars and plug-in drivetrains for trucks), Fisker Automotive (electric sedans), Zap (low-speed and sports cars), Miles Automotive (low speed), Zenn Motors (low speed), AC Propulsion (retrofitting Scions for electric), Phoenix Motorcars (SUVs), Aptera (three-wheelers), Porteon (low speed electrics), Lightning (sports cars in England), Reva (economy cars), Ultramotor (electric trishaws), Myers Motors (freakish three-wheelers featured in Goldmember), Think (electric economy cars) and Venture Vehicles (three-wheeled electric cars.).I'd say the only "major" player that Kanellos missed is GEM, which has been making glorified golf carts for ages. Other contenders not on his list include Universal Electric Vehicle, American Electric Vehicle, G-Wiz and Hybrid Technologies. I'm sure there's at least a couple more we're missing, but we're already got over 20 small EV companies. Pretty soon, he figures, this list will be much easier to calculate: "History shows that most of these companies will be wiped out." So it goes, as my favorite author would write. ]

Finally: take a look at Fisker's hybrid

We've been bringing you news about Fisker's upcoming plug-in hybrid car since all we had to go on was the teaser site. We expected the car to be attractive, and the first photo does not disappoint. We still face a distinct lack of details on the vehicle's specifications, but we can see in the picture the outline of a slinky sedan shell with overtly sporty dimensions. Notice the long hood and short deck design as well as the flaring wheel arches. Looks great to our eyes. Expect the Frisker to make its debut in January in Detroit. Green car consumers should some day soon have their choice between this larger sedan and the smaller, sportier Tesla Roadster. It's a good time to have a hundred grand burning a hold in your pocket...

More details on Frisker’s upcoming hybrid

If you are in the market for a plug-in hybrid sedan, and you've got at least 80 grand to spend on it... have we got good news for you! As we shared with our readers a while back, coachbuilder Fisker is planning to show off a new unique hybrid model at the next Detroit Auto Show this January. While we unfortunately still don't have any photos to show you, we are expecting the car to be quite a looker, based on other vehicles that Fisker has rolled out. Too bad the low-volumes that we expect this car will sell at are not likely to make a big dent in the cost of the technology. Oh well, we are all excited to hear about the Volt's likely production status, and the Fisker should be on the radar for those who like the technology but would never be caught dead driving a Chevy.

Henrik Fisker goes green with ECO-CHIC plug-in vehicle

Quantum Technologies is no stranger to our pages, having seen coverage as diverse as hydrogen systems for the Toyota Prius all the way through large hydrogen vans and up to hybrid vehicles for the military. Now, it seems that they have partnered with Fisker Automotive, maker of fine coach-built vehicles based on the underpinnings of luxury sports cars. The vehicles is to feature styling by Henrik Fisker, whose earlier work included various Aston Martin cars and the BMW Z8. This means that the vehicle will, at the very least, be attractive. Fisker hopes to build 15,000 plug-in hybrid "ECO-CHIC" vehicles annually at a cost of less than $100,000 each.
We are looking towards January 13, 2008, for The Detroit International Auto Show, where the vehicle is expected to be unveiled. A countdown has already started at the official Fisker website. Quantum has designed the chassis specifically for Fisker. The vehicle should be capable of charging from a standard outlet. No mention is made of specifications, so we will be sure to stay on top of this one and let you know details like expected range and speed. Is it possible that Fisker beats both Toyota and GM to market with a production plug-in electric car available for sale? If the press release is correct and the production car debuts in January of next year, it seems that they might. No matter, this is great news for those who can afford to spend six-digit sums on an automobile.