- This Fisker Ocean has pushed over 10,000 miles and remains to be going robust.
- That is regardless of Fisker going bankrupt and promoting its belongings.
The Fisker Ocean was imagined to be one of many many “Tesla Mannequin Y killers.” And whereas it was a promising EV, its destiny was sealed after the automaker behind it went bankrupt. Roughly 11,000 items have been ever made, and all of them are topic to 2 hardware-related recollects which can be but to be resolved.
That mentioned, barely used Ocean EVs are promoting for lower than $25,000 on-line, making it a reasonably engaging choice, albeit not one for the faint of coronary heart. There are numerous proprietor tales of bricked vehicles. Servicing choices are few and much between, and only a few spare components can be found, so the prospect of proudly owning an EV from an unproven and bankrupt automaker is daunting, to say the least.
However not all Ocean EVs are basket circumstances. Some homeowners, like the one within the video beneath, have pushed their vehicles for over a yr and have racked up over 10,000 miles with only a few points.
This explicit EV, limited-edition Ocean One, was delivered on October 26, 2023, and has since pushed 11,380 miles. Earlier than I get into the small print–together with some attention-grabbing mods–I’ll get this out of the way in which: the automobile has by no means stranded its proprietor, which is reassuring.
Now, for the problems. On supply day, the automobile’s small rear quarter home windows didn’t roll down and there have been a number of paint defects. The air-con system vents and module additionally went a bit loopy and the Bluetooth connectivity was lackluster. All these issues have been mounted, although, with some requiring a go to from a cell technician–again when Fisker was nonetheless a functioning firm–whereas others went away with software program updates.
Talking of software program, the automobile is operating the newest software program model 2.2. That is the final iteration equipped by Fisker earlier than its liquidation case was accredited, and it implies that homeowners won’t ever profit from options like Adaptive Cruise Management, which was promised by Fisker however by no means delivered.
There may be some hope, although. The Fisker House owners Affiliation, a volunteer group, was a giant a part of the chapter case and it gained entry to the automobile’s core software program, in addition to the diagnostics software wanted to repair points. Volunteers might step up and add new options to the vehicles, however at this level, it’s too early to inform what’s going to occur.
Some reasonably artistic mods have been added to this Ocean EV, equivalent to a 12-volt battery tender cable that’s accessible from below the windshield. That is used to maintain the low-voltage battery topped up as a result of if it dies, the entire automobile turns into a brick. The door handles don’t come out and even in the event you get inside, the automobile won’t activate.
One other mod is a hidden swap put in below the dashboard. When used, it basically cuts energy to the infotainment system identical to you’d by eradicating the suitable fuse after which placing it again. Because it seems, the central display screen within the Fisker Ocean tends to go clean or freeze and the fast and soiled repair is to take away the fuse. this modification means the proprietor doesn’t need to entry the fuse panel anymore, which is fairly sensible.
With regards to effectivity, the common after 11,380 miles is 0.32 kWh/mile or 3.1 miles/kWh. The Ocean EV additionally has a photo voltaic array on the panoramic glass roof. On this case, the photovoltaic cells added 20 kWh of vitality in a yr, however that’s as a result of the automobile was principally parked inside a storage or within the shade.
Following Fisker’s chapter, it’s unclear what’s going to occur with the web connectivity of the Ocean EVs and with the navigation companies supplied by TomTom. The proprietor of this automobile mentioned he has by no means acquired a map replace and that the web connection remains to be going robust, although.
There’s so much to digest, that’s for positive. However for the proper worth, I positive could be tempted to get one, realizing all too nicely what the implications could also be. What about you?
