Electric Car Startups Challenge Tesla's Dominance In The US Market, Here's Their Advantage!

Fisker Inc., publicly showcases the Ocean electric car. (photo: twitter)

JAKARTA – A startup company from the US, Fisker Inc, launched an electric sports vehicle on Wednesday, November 17. They claim that the startup will have a higher driving range than Tesla Inc's Model Y vehicles.

With the production of an electric SUV, the Ocean, set to hit the market this November, Fisker will join peer Lucid Group Inc in challenging Tesla's leadership in battery and electric car technology.

Automakers and battery manufacturers are now constantly racing to increase production and develop advanced electric vehicle batteries. The main component of this EV demand is expected to grow in the coming years.

A bird’s eye view of the all-electric production-intent #FiskerOcean SUV from the Manhattan Beach Pier. Don’t miss tomorrow’s global reveal + detailed specifications of the Fisker Ocean streaming live from the @LAAutoShow. pic.twitter.com/2Ts49flqev

— Fisker Inc. (@FiskerInc) November 17, 2021

Fisker said it has leveraged the technology of Chinese battery maker CATL to achieve an estimated driving distance of over 350 miles (563 km) per charge for its most expensive Ocean Extreme SUV, priced at $68,999 and 340 miles (547 km) for Ocean Ultra, which is priced at $49,999 (Rp711 million).

For comparison, the Tesla Model Y Long Range has a range of 330 miles (531 km) and is priced at $58,990.

The two higher-range Ocean models will use nickel-based battery chemicals, while the most affordable version will use less expensive iron-based chemicals.

Fisker says the base model Ocean Sport will be priced at $37,499 and achieve a driving range of 250 miles (402 km) per charge.

California-based startup Lucid Group Inc, led by former Tesla engineer Peter Rawlinson, started deliveries of the Air luxury electric sedan last month, with a driving range beating Tesla.

The new cars are scheduled to be showcased at the Los Angeles Auto Show starting this Wednesday, November 17, and will be the first major US auto show since the pandemic crisis.

Fisker was launched by Henrik Fisker, an Aston-Martin designer who had previously built Fisker Automotive, but collapsed in 2013. Fisker also struggled with a battery recall made by its previous supplier, A123, which later filed for bankruptcy and was eventually acquired by the Wanxiang Group from China.