American brand Fisker is in advanced talks with Extreme E to become the first manufacturer to join the new series.
The Extreme E entry list is currently populated by professional racing teams and specialist electromobility companies, but should electric-vehicle specialist Fisker join the fray it would mark the first time an actual automotive manufacturer has committed to the series.
For the inaugural Extreme E campaign, all teams will run the ODYSSEY 21, a bespoke SUV-like vehicle produced by Spark Racing Technology and powered by a battery developed by the Williams Formula 1 team.
“We feel thrilled at the prospect of having Fisker Inc, a pure EV manufacturer, join Extreme E for the start of the first championship,” said Extreme E founder and CEO Alejandro Agag.
“Creating the world’s most sustainable racing series is the perfect launch platform for their new Ocean SUV as well as providing a challenging testing environment for product durability.”
Californian brand Fisker, founded by former BMW designer Henrik Fisker, is currently developing an all-electric sedan called the EMotion, which will have a 400-mile range, and an SUV dubbed the Ocean (pictured above).
Fisker originally produced the range-extended electric luxury Karma sports sedan between 2011 and ’12.
The company was relaunched in 2016, dropping ‘Automotive’ from it’s name, and set about planning a range of mass-market all-electric vehicles and autonomous transportation solutions.
“Alejandro brought electric vehicle racing into the mainstream with Formula E and I fully support his vision to reinvent off-road racing at the same time as creating an education platform for the threats posed by climate change,” said Fisker.
“Extreme E and Fisker Inc. are completely aligned in our mission and values.”
Should Fisker join Extreme E, it will follow in the footsteps of fellow electric-only brand Venturi, which was the first manufacturer – and team – to sign up for Formula E.
Venturi has since been joined by a raft of OEMs in the single-seater series.
