More Than A Dozen Fisker Karma Hybrids Caught Fire And Exploded In New Jersey Port After Sandy

Jalopnik ^ | Nov 01,2012 | Staff

[Red Badger]

Approximately 16 of the $100,000+ Fisker Karma extended-range luxury hybrids were parked in Port Newark, New Jersey last night when water from Hurricane Sandy’s storm surge apparently breached the port and submerged the vehicles. As Jalopnik has exclusively learned, the cars then caught fire and burned to the ground.

Our source tells us they were “first submerged in a storm surge and then caught fire, exploded.” This wouldn’t be the first time the vehicles, which use a small gasoline engine to charge batteries that provide energy to two electric motors, had an issue with sudden combustion.

The vehicle, despite only being in limited production, has already experienced numerous fires due to equipment failures and electrical shorts. How, exactly, they caught fire after being submerged in sea water is unclear. It’s possible the salt water caused a short that led to a fire.

Calls to Fisker and the Port Newark Container Terminal have not been returned as of publication time.

UPDATE: Fisker released the following statement:

“It was reported today that several Fisker Karmas were damaged by fire at the Port of Newark after being submerged in sea water during Superstorm Sandy. We can report that there were no injuries and none of the cars were being charged at the time.

We have confidence in the Fisker Karma and safety is our primary concern. While we intend to find the cause as quickly as possible, storm damage has restricted access to the port.

We will issue a further statement once the root cause has been determined.”

[angcat]

You are welcome!

[Wordkraft]

I have a used Karma.

I got it from a little old lady school teacher who was only responsible for her actions on weekends.

[muawiyah]

So, a hunert tousand simolians? jus like that!

[The Cajun]

Yup, should have put a fuse somewhere in that sucker.

[MasterGunner01]

Looks like another green car manufacturer is going to go belly-up. Does any one know if production of the Chevy Volt is still suspended? Didn't the Volt's battery pack manufacturer go belly-up? Where are replacement battery packs going to come from?

[MasterGunner01]

Looks like another green car manufacturer is going to go belly-up. Does any one know if production of the Chevy Volt is still suspended? Didn't the Volt's battery pack manufacturer go belly-up? Where are replacement battery packs going to come from?

[InMemoriam]

Lithium + water = spectacular YouTube video

[doorgunner69]

And any kid that has taken HS science class knows that only pure water is a good insulator, and that is very hard to find in nature, especially lying on the ground.

I remember the old joke about being stuck in a traffic jam in a Pinto, and seeing an Audi pull up behind you. You knew you were about to die a fiery death.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

"As described in the literature, various substances have been tried as extinguishants for metallic lithium fires. For many of these substances, the equilibrium temperature was computed from the reaction of the substance with hot (1040°C) lithium. For some of these substances, the computed equilibrium temperature was sufficiently low that the substances could be considered good extinguishants, and this was generally borne out by literature data. Some of the more promising substances for use as lithium fire extinguishants are silicon carbide (SiC), magnesium oxide (MgO), liquid argon, and boron nitride. Compounds found both by computation and in the literature to enhance combustion include carbon dioxide, TeflonTM, Halon 1211, and carbon tetrachloride."

http://www.springerlink.com/content/t84966h8uj480872/

BTW, 1040°C = 1904°F. The Fisker Karma has an aluminum skin. The melting point of aluminum is 1220°F

[Joe 6-pack]

"How many students kept a turkey baster in their dorm?"

Quite a few, once they saw it as a means to free soda.

[capt.P]

I was waiting out the storm in a hurricane berth with my oil barge when this happened right across the dock from us. The cars blew up quite energetically, and I had my camera phone with me.

Pictures at http://bigironbegfish.blogspot.com

[Red Badger]

They blowed up real good!.............

[Red Badger]

They blowed up real good!.............

We have an eyewitness here folks!.............

[capt.P]

Eva, the terminals are still closed pending on electricity being restored. Additionally, they’re batting cleanup, and the oil terminals especially have extensive dock damage. The bulk and container terminals fared better, though they’ve got a large mess to clean up. I posted some pictures on my blog. Trying to keep busy until we can find a terminal to take the black oil that is cooling and solidifying in my tanks.

You can see them at http://bigironbegfish.blogspot.com

[Covenantor]

That was one hellacious night for you. Sorry for the loss of your truck.

[Eva]

Did you see the article about the Electrical workers union turning away a non-union team of workers from Alabama, who were traveling to NJ to help restore the power?

Thanks for the update. No one is interested in anything but the human interest stories of the storm, but the real recovery is going to be dependent on the recovery of commercial, industrial and shipping interests, including the refineries.

[bert]

I would be interested in knowing what percentage of the total Karma inventory was burned?

I’m thinking it was large

[Carry_Okie]

Almost exactly a 50% bankruptcy rate.

[BenLurkin]

You never saw the “co-eds” at that school.....

[truth_seeker]

“What country makes these things?”

Fisker is an American company, founded by Danishman Henrik Fisker, who designed for several luxury Euro brands, before starting his luxury coach company.

He assembled money and talent, to design this first Fisker model, with cheaper versions in the pipeline. Talent includes people from BMW, and private plus US government $$.

The technology is similar to GM’s Volt, using drive from electric battery, which is recharged by both plug in, plus onboard gasoline engine.

Toyota Prius and Ford Cmax Hybrid just introduced their vehilces with similar combination powertrain.

Assembly of this Fisker Karma is in Finland, by a company that also assembles Porsches.

That is right, your US federal government under Obama is stimulating auto assenmbly in Finland, with your dollars.

Don’t blame Fisker, blame Obama.