Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
New hybrid is Karma for former Manitoban
Helped designed high-end plug-in car
Fisker unveils Karma S plug-In hybrid concept at the North American International Auto Show in January. (PAUL SANCYA / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Winnipeg drivers might not be ready for the $87,000 price tag on the Fisker Karma, but the flashy new plug-in hybrid is ready for our winter temperatures -- just ask the former Manitoban who helped design it.
Derrin Olischefski grew up and worked in Manitoba before moving in 2001 to California, where he's now responsible for developing the inner workings of a hybrid car that turned heads at the recent Detroit Auto Show.
"It was very exciting, to be part of it," said Olischefski. "It's a pretty sexy car."
The University of Manitoba graduate spent 13 years at Winnipeg's New Flyer Industries before becoming manager of vehicle integration for Quantum Technologies.
The California company initially focused on automotive alternative fuels, such as hydrogen and compressed natural gas. Over the years, it moved into hybrids, converting Toyota Priuses to run on hydrogen for a government department in California and souping up Ford Escape hybrids for the U.S. military.
In late 2007, the company paired up with automotive designer Henrik Fisker to start the Fisker Automotive company, with the sleek Karma as its first big project. Olischefski is chief powertrain engineer for the luxury sedan, which the company hopes will lure in drivers with thicker wallets.
"It's really trying to sway the existing, what I'll call high-end buyer, that wants to improve their environmental outlook," he said.
Olischefski worked with a team of roughly 35 people to design the powertrain for the Karma, which has an 80-kilometre range thanks to the lithium-ion battery inside.
The battery recharges when plugged in overnight and gets an extra boost when drivers hit the brakes, a process known as regenerative braking. After the car goes more than 80 km, the gas engine kicks in.
Production has yet to begin but around 1,500 of the cars are already spoken for, said Olischefski, who was mum on whether any Hollywood celebrities will get behind the wheel.
"Some of the first users will be definitely high-profile people," he said.
Olischefski said it's a bit strange to work at a start-up automotive company at the same time as a multbillion-dollar bailout for the Big 3 makes headlines, but thinks small companies have an advantage in the realm of fuel-efficient and alternative fuel vehicles.
"They're a freight train when it comes to technology change," he said of the major players.
"We're much more agile than would be a big company."
Olischefski said the first demo Karmas should hit the road in late 2009, with fully-tested cars set to be available in North America in May 2010.
He's not sure if he'll end up owning a Karma, but said he will spend some time in the driver's seat during the upcoming test phase.
"I'll have plenty of opportunity to drive them, that's for sure," he said.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 9, 2009 A2
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