Fisker is contacting Ocean reservation holders to request a second, $5,000 non-refundable payment in order to secure a place in the queue for the brand’s first Launch Edition One models. According to Fisker, the sum will effectively be a downpayment on one of the 5,000 launch models. To date, more than 40,000 potential buyers have joined the reservation list for what is one of the most keenly-anticipated electric car launches. However, deposit holders have yet to drive the car or receive final design and technical specifications.

According to US electric car channel electrek.co, the email to reservation holders explains  that only 5,000 Launch Edition Fisker Ocean One models will be made and that select groups of reservation holders are being invited to secure one of the cars by making a $5,000 non-refundable pre-order deposit. Electrifying.com has contacted the brand’s UK representatives regarding the situation with UK deposit holders, but has yet to receive a response.

The email to reservation holders goes on to confirm that while production is set to start in Austria in November, customers may have to wait until September 2023 to take delivery. Fisker has previously stated that the £59,900 Launch Edition One model will be the first to come off the production line, which indicates that series model cars including the £59,900 Ocean Extreme, £48,900 Ultra and the entry level £34,990 Sport model, will arrive in the UK mid to late next year.  

Explaining the move, Fisker has clarified that: “The $5,000, which is just a down payment, is for customers/fans that specifically want to lock down the launch edition vehicle. It does not apply to Fisker reservation holders overall—for any other model."

Despite rising supply and energy costs, boss Henrik Fisker has repeatedly promised to stick to the prices originally announced. Commenting in Twitter in March, he said: "We are a digital mobility company with a vehicle OTA [over the air] lifetime business model. We do NOT need to increase our prices at launch or right after.”

According to Fisker, the entry level Ocean Sport model will have a range of around 275 miles

Fisker has yet to reveal the capacities of the two battery packs it will offer when the Ocean is launched next year, but Electrifying.com expects the entry-level pack to be around 80kWh in size with the larger battery to be more than 90kWh.

To reduce costs, Fisker will equip the front-wheel drive model with a pack that uses lithium-ion phosphate (LFP) cell chemistry supplied by CATL. According to Fisker, the entry level model will have a range of around 275 miles. LFP batteries are cheaper to produce and contain no cobalt, but have less energy density. That means the range of LFP batteries is usually less than a traditional Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) battery packs. Tesla has been using LFP batteries in its lower-spec Model 3 variants for more than a year, so the technology is tried and tested.

Buyers wanting more range will be able to opt for a larger NMC pack. This will deliver power to the road via dual motors and all-wheel drive and Fisker simulations believe that European spec cars should be able to hit an impressive 390 miles on a single charge.

Although the Ocean will have a 400 volt electrical system rather than 800 volt system as fitted to the Kia EV6, Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Porsche Taycan, Fisker claims that both battery options will be able to DC fast charge at speeds of up to 250kW. This would put it on a par with Tesla, which offers a similar speed from a 400 volt system. Should this be the case, the Ocean will be able to add around 100 miles range in under eight minutes and an 80% charge in under 30 minutes.

The Fisker Ocean Sport will have an expected 0-62 mph time of 7.1 seconds with an output of 275bhp. TheOcean Ultra will have an estimated 0-62 mph time of 4.1 seconds, with an estimated output of 543bhp. The range-topping Ocean Extreme and Fisker Ocean One will have an estimated 0-62 mph time of 3.8 seconds, an estimated output of 543bhp.

The Ocean Sport will have Earth and Fun drive modes, while the Fisker Ocean Ultra and Fisker Ocean Extreme will add Hyper mode. The Fisker Ocean Extreme and the Fisker Ocean One will also have an Off-Road mode. The Fisker Ocean Ultra, Fisker Ocean Extreme, and Fisker Ocean One trims will have a Smart Traction torque-vectoring system to enhance performance and safety.