Fisker got word of Bereisa's comments and it has issued a statement in response.
Fisker explains that the Karma went through a wide series of tests before it was delivered to the public. These tests included running the car at a sustained 125 miles per hour on the autobahn in Germany and driving it through Death Valley in California. The Karma is said to have passed all of the tests admirably.
Furthermore, Fisker says that it put the Karma in a wind tunnel that emulated the harsh climatic conditions found in regions such as the Middle East and Africa. Overheating was not found to be a problem and the car did not catch fire.
Fisker also addressed Bereisa's claim that a fluid leak was the source of the fire. The company affirmed that the Karma uses a glycol-free coolant that has a zero-flammability rating. The reservoirs that hold potentially flammable liquids such as brake fluid and power steering fluid are strategically located on the "cold" side of the engine.
Finally, Fisker's statement explained that the cooling fan operates in a way that is designed to dissipate all excess heat found in the engine bay even if the car is turned off.
"Cooling algorithms have been developed to ensure that, at power off and under certain conditions, the vehicle cooling fan maintains circulation in the engine compartment in order to remove any excess heat," said the company.
A final report that pinpoints the exact cause of the fire is expected to be released in the near future.
Fisker Karma review images by Andrew Ganz.
