[Fabulist]

Just received an Email from Mr. Fisker that argues the case for gas mileage being dependent on driving habit and against the EPA's numbers. Buried deep in the message is the following statement:

"Additionally, the EPA reported that the Fisker Karma Sedan has a tailpipe CO2 rating of 188 g/mi."

This translates to 117.5 Grams/KM which in many European countries is below the 120 G/KM threshold that makes cars eligible for significant rebates and significantly discounted or even free annual taxes. Here is the list of country by country breakdown if you are interested. If the European authorities get the same numbers as the EPA, this would make the Fisker very competitive in Europe with the kinds of cars it is usually compared with (Panamera, Quatroporte, Rapide, etc.) because they are not eligible for these benefits.

Let's hope this holds and the TUV does not come up with a higher number.

-- Fab.

 

[Dutch]

I sure hope that in Europese the testresults will be different, because in my country it needs to be under 110 grams to avoid a huge car tax of 19%. If that's not the case, I'm down and out.

 

[Fabulist]

in my country it needs to be under 110 grams to avoid a huge car tax of 19%. If that's not the case, I'm down and out.

:s That's cutting it close! Their original estimate was 90 G/Km, but we know what happens with Fisker estimates.

-- Fab.

 

[Fabulist]

@Dutch: Just out of curiosity, I checked to see if the Chevy Volt's CO2 emissions came out differently under US EPA and European tests. The diference is enormous, as it turns out. The Chevy volt is rated at 84 G/KM by the US EPA, whereas the mechanically identical European car, the Opel Ampera is preliminary rated at 40 G/KM.

I also looked up the CO2 values for the 2011 Jaguar XK Convertible to see if the differences were limited to PHEVs -- it is not. The US EPA reported 437 G/KM, while British Taxing authorities rated the exact same car as emitting 269 G/KM.

These are pretty huge variations which would indicate that the methodologies used are vastly different. If the Fisker gets anywhere near the reduction in CO2 ratings as the Volt/Ampera or the Jag, you should have no problem with the Carbon Tax.

Let's hope Fisker does not manage to find a way to screw this one up ....

-- Fab.

 

[Dutch]

Yes, it's those huge differences (I knew about the Volt vs. Ampera) that make me confident that the Karma will have a much better result in the European test.

The only doubt I have: I don't know if the Ampera has already officialy been tested or whether the 40 g/km is a company estimate (just like the 83 g/km for the Karma was). Also, the Ampera may have changes compared to the Volt to do well under the European testing conditions.

I know many companies make the cars so they will do well in the tests, but then in real life results are disappointing. Hardly anyone makes the mpg-numbers that the official test produces, not even people trying to drive as efficient as possible. From what I understand it is exactly the opposite with the EPA-numbers.

I guess the truth is somewhere in the middle between the EPA-numbers and the European numbers.