The electric motors, the additional wiring needed to run to power systems, the solar panel, the big wheel/tires(very heavy), and the GM engine and generator.
Weight audit
So as I count the days down to delivery (or cancellation, its all up to you Fisker!), was just thinking how/why the Karma is so heavy.
We all now know that the Karma weighs 5,300lbs, despite its "aluminum spaceframe" and "composite body panels". Many blame its large battery. But the battery weighs *only* 606lbs. So if we net out the battery, we're down to a still-hefty 4,700lbs.
The Karma doesn't have a transmission since the ICE is used just as a range-extender, so that saves us 175lbs. So if we wanted to do a like-for-like comparison, we should gross up the weight to account for the would-be transmission. At 4,875lbs, the Karma weighs substantially more than the base Porsche Panamera which weighs just 3,900lbs (and has a larger, heavier engine than the I4 in the Karma).
So my question is this - do the two electric motors that drive the wheels really weigh 975lbs (ie 4,875-3900)? Seems hard to believe when most 4 and 6 cyclinder ICEs weigh only 200-350lbs.
If not, where is all this extra baggage coming from?
We all now know that the Karma weighs 5,300lbs, despite its "aluminum spaceframe" and "composite body panels". Many blame its large battery. But the battery weighs *only* 606lbs. So if we net out the battery, we're down to a still-hefty 4,700lbs.
The Karma doesn't have a transmission since the ICE is used just as a range-extender, so that saves us 175lbs. So if we wanted to do a like-for-like comparison, we should gross up the weight to account for the would-be transmission. At 4,875lbs, the Karma weighs substantially more than the base Porsche Panamera which weighs just 3,900lbs (and has a larger, heavier engine than the I4 in the Karma).
So my question is this - do the two electric motors that drive the wheels really weigh 975lbs (ie 4,875-3900)? Seems hard to believe when most 4 and 6 cyclinder ICEs weigh only 200-350lbs.
If not, where is all this extra baggage coming from?
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GM engine already included in the comparison (since Panamera has a larger V6 in its base model)ffcars said:The electric motors, the additional wiring needed to run to power systems, the solar panel, the big wheel/tires(very heavy), and the GM engine and generator.
The solar panel (all glas) is probably pretty heavy. It's a big car (long and wide). The wheels are big. It has a lot of features as standard (which are options in other cars and probably are not included in their total weight). Then there's the generator, the two electric motors, the huge battery pack with coolant and casing. The only things taking off some weight are the (lack of) transmission and smaller gas tank. I'm not surprised it's so heavy. But I am surprised it still handles so well!
1 - 4 of 4 Posts
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