Expert: Fisker Karma's engine packaging, not batteries, likely caused fire

[Neromanceres]

http://www.autonews.com/article/2012...-likely-caused

LOS ANGELES -- A garage fire last week in suburban Houston has been linked to a Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid, but the company quickly noted that the battery remained intact and unplugged -- and did not appear to be the cause.

But if not the battery, then what?

More likely, poor packaging in the engine compartment and exhaust routing generated excess heat. When combined with a fluid leak, that would be enough to create a fire, said Jon Bereisa, CEO of consultancy Auto Lectrification.

Bereisa was chief engineer of General Motors' EV1 and was the systems architect for the Chevrolet Volt, so he knows his way around these sorts of complex problems.

Bereisa has driven the Karma and has nosed around the car's inner workings. When he saw the cramped engine compartment of his test car, he was immediately alarmed.

"That engine is shoehorned into that bay, because they had to use a larger engine, because it was too heavy a car. As a result, there's no room for exhaust routing and heat shielding to route the heat away," Bereisa said in an interview.

[Neromanceres]

If this turns out to be true than Fisker might have a big problem on their hands.

Hopefully this is something that can be identified and fixed quickly.

[MrEnergyCzar]

The media is quick to jump to conclusions. I'd rather have a battery than gas in my garage any day....

MrEnergyCzar

[Steverino]

If true, then it highlights why its harder for a startup like Fisker to compete with the engineering depth at GM. And another reason why the Volt is a safer bet and just how MUCH thought goes into producing a car like this. I am constantly amazed at how well thought out the Volt is.

[Noel Park]

If true, then it highlights why its harder for a startup like Fisker to compete with the engineering depth at GM. And another reason why the Volt is a safer bet and just how MUCH thought goes into producing a car like this. I am constantly amazed at how well thought out the Volt is.

Amen. I completely agree. +1

[vdiv]

And another reason why GM should keep, cultivate, and grow that engineering depth instead of laying it off.

[AZ EV Driver]

If true, then it highlights why its harder for a startup like Fisker to compete with the engineering depth at GM. And another reason why the Volt is a safer bet and just how MUCH thought goes into producing a car like this. I am constantly amazed at how well thought out the Volt is.

I agree that maintaining a "corporate knowledgebase" is important to avoiding problems. I think one of the reasons that the Volt is so brilliant is that many minds that worked on the EV1 were key to the development of the Voltec system. What concerns me is, in todays culture, how do you keep those minds actively engaged and onboard in a corporation like GM? For GM (and our public investment in them) to succeed in the future they need to keep rolling strikes. Hopefully those that remain at GM have learned the correct lessons and we will all be happy for their return to building competitive products. There is still much more work to do.

VIN # B0985

[Jim I]

Can you imagine how proud the EV1 engineers must have felt to get to work on the Volt?

It would have been a true vindication of their first effort!!!

And it is really incredible to me that questions and concerns I come up with about the operation of my Volt have already been solved and engineered into the car.......

C-5277

[cmr]

Since the date of this incident, Mr. Gutierrez has been fully cooperative with public safety officials, as well as insurance adjusters and the vehicle manufacturer's investigators. In fact, Mr. Gutierrez fully accommodated the precise and somewhat peculiar demands of Fisker Automotive, who sent their self-proclaimed “SWAT Team” of engineers and inspectors (that included their own forensic cause and origin investigator) to the Gutierrez home within 24 hours of the fire. They descended upon the Gutierrez home in alarming numbers and immediately demanded a 24-hour lock-down of his home, including the remains of the Fisker Karma vehicle.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/2012...#ixzz1uaE7blxc

demanded? ummmmmmm....... i guess it's a good thing it wasn't my home and automobiles........ if i were being completely cooperative and that happened to me i would probably be the one demanding something...... them leaving.

[cnicholson]

The media is quick to jump to conclusions. I'd rather have a battery than gas in my garage any day....

MrEnergyCzar

Even the day it burns down? I hear you long term, but fear of the new is not irrational in this case. One of my hobbies is RC cars with LiPo batteries. I have seen several half-pound LiPo's short out and spontaneously combust. Driving around with 450 pounds of this stuff is not to be taken lightly.

I think we should expect several more fires before the industry irons out everything.