45 Karma owners gather with Dutch astronaut André Kuipers in Netherlands for the attempt.
Fisker Automotive helped set two new world records for electric vehicles at an event organized by the company’s Dutch retailer, Fisker Nederland.
The Southern California automaker is now first to hold the world record for Highest Number of Single-Brand Electric Vehicles to be Charged Simultaneously, with 45 owners of its Karma Electric Vehicle with extended range (EVer™) having their cars charged at the same time.
Those 45 owners also helped break the world record for Highest Number of Mixed-Brand Electric Vehicles to be Charged Simultaneously. That record now stands at 50. The previous record was 43, set in May of this year.
Both records were confirmed by Stichting E-Laad, the Dutch foundation for the promotion of electric driving.
Fisker Nederland, Fisker Automotive’s most successful European representative with more than 130 Karmas sold since January 2012, organized the event Sunday September 2 at the Floriade Horticultural World Expo in Venlo, Netherlands, where 60 240-volt charge points were temporarily installed for the occasion. Floriade stands for innovation and the sustainable relationship between man and nature, teaches us how to return to nature and how to learn from it.
The successful attempt was part of the first ‘Good Karma Day’ for Dutch Fisker Karma owners, which was part charity event -- for every Karma sold by Fisker Nederland a donation was made to the Eugène Janssen Foundation to support African children living in dire circumstances – and part social gathering.
The world record-activity was witnessed by famous Dutch ESA astronaut and Karma driver Mr. André Kuipers, who just returned from a six-month stay aboard the International Space Station; Fisker Automotive co-founder Mr. Bernhard Koehler; and Mr. Jacob Nellemann, general manager of the Nellemann Group, the Fisker Distributor for northwest Europe.
”We are excited that as an American car company we have had so many European Karma owners make this world-record attempt a success,” said Koehler. ”They have helped make history and show that electric vehicles with extended range are the future.”
Geert-Jan Tax said, ”The success of Fisker in the Dutch market underlines the massive potential that the Karma has around the globe. The Fisker Karma is the first truly global vehicle that the American car industry has produced over the last few decades and certainly the most innovative. America should be proud of Fisker. The enthusiasm and engagement of our clients to bring 45 Karmas together on the last sunny weekend of the year is symbolic for the passion, product satisfaction and enthusiasm that is felt towards the Fisker brand by all Karma owners and their families.”
Jacob Nellemann said, “Representing Fisker in the North European markets, we are extremely proud of our achievement in Holland. Gathering 45 happy Karma owners for a whole day event like this shows that our customers actually care for and believe in our brand and what we try to accomplish. And even more encouraging, this sets the pace for the ever growing club of Fisker believers across not only Europe but in the world.”
The sight of 45 Karmas in the Dutch countryside was an unforgettable experience for owners and sent a message to the thousands of visitors at Floriade that day, that driving a Fisker Electric Vehicle with extended range can be as smart as it is beautiful.