Fisker Ocean is close to EPA approval - its final step before going on sale in the US

Fisker was celebrating last week the results of WLTP testing of its first electric car. The Fisker Ocean was awarded an unprecedented 708 km rating and immediately became an electric SUV with the highest driving range currently on the market.

While the WLTP is accepted by most countries as an indication of the vehicle’s energy consumption, the US has its own testing requirements. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) issues a Certificate of Conformity before any vehicle can be sold in the country. Fisker confirmed it has already supplied all the driving range test results to the EPA and it expects the Ocean to be awarded a 350-mile rating.

EPA’s 350 miles is 563 km which is a huge difference from the 708 km given by WLTP. The truth is, WLTP ratings are still optimistic and the EPA tests are the closest to real-life conditions. Many cars actually exceed the EPA ratings but no car has ever exceeded its WLTP rating.

Fisker Ocean should get the full EU approval by the end of this month and the company already promised the deliveries will begin soon after. The factory in Austria is preparing to increase its production rate from April 20 for the European models. Vehicles going to the US will have their production ramp-up commence early in May.

The first version of the Ocean coming to the US will be the Ocean One. Just as in Europe, this version is a fully equipped launch version with the biggest battery and most powerful powertrain. It will start at $68,889 with the cheaper trims to begin arriving at a later stage. Ocean Sport will be the cheapest with a starting price of $37,499 followed by Ocean Ultra starting from $49,999.

Fisker Ocean does not qualify for the EV tax credit for buyers but the customers who opt for the lease will be able to get a better deal. Under the EV tax rules, any EV regardless of its origin qualifies for the $7,500 subsidy as long as it is offered on finance through a US financial institution. The subsidy is passed on to the bank or finance company and results in lower monthly payments.

Fisker plans to manufacture 42,000 units of the Fisker Ocean before the end of this year. The company is planning to manufacture its cars in the US beginning in 2024. Its second model, the Fisker Pear, will be manufactured by Foxconn in Ohio. The planned production rate is 250,000 vehicles per year and the first vehicles will leave the Lordstown factory in the second half of 2024.

Via