Driving the Electric Car Revolution w/ Henrik Fisker of Fisker, Inc.

The Future Car: A Siemens Podcast

Getting electric vehicles on the road and putting those keys in the hands of drivers has certainly had its speed bumps. There’s the whole battery technology issue, an area where progress seems to sometimes move at a snail’s pace. Then, the high costs that made owning one of these cars out of reach for anyone who wasn’t a celebrity, a politician, or independently wealthy.

How can EV manufacturers solve this problem? We’ve all wondered if we might ever actually see affordable EVs enter the mainstream. But today, despite all of the setbacks, that moment is almost here. The keys to one of these beautiful, sustainably operated vehicles are closer than ever to landing in the hands of drivers, offering the EV experience to the mainstream at a surprising level of affordability.

Today’s guest is designer and entrepreneur Henrik Fisker, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Fisker, Inc. He’s spent his life sketching out some of the most beautiful, iconic vehicles of his generation. Fisker’s eye for design and creative approach to innovation have made him an important voice in the conversation around electric vehicles.

In this episode, host Ed Bernardon talks to Fisker about how he started, the lessons he’s learned from putting an EV to market, and the exciting upcoming launch of the Fisker Ocean, an expertly designed electric SUV with an unbelievable price point at under $40K. You’ll hear Fisker’s predictions for the future of mobility, and why he’s long made a point of hiring women for top leadership roles at Fisker, Inc.

Some Questions I Ask:

• How did you realize you finally were ready to become a car designer? (2:36)
• What percentage of designer, engineer, and businessman is Henrik Fisker? (10:09)
• Where do you think styling is going in the year 2030 and beyond? (12:18)
• How did you come up with the name for your first car, Karma? (17:25)
• Do you think it's important to own all the technology that's in your car? (24:50)
• When can we get our hands on one of these vehicles? (31:04)
• What is the positive impact on your businesses having women in such influential positions at Fisker Inc.? (33:47)
• Where are the biggest bottlenecks in the engineering process? (38:54)

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Fisker’s biggest design inspiration (3:55)
• How vehicle design and engineering have changed since the ’50s & ’60s (6:39)
• The two concepts that will shape the future of mobility (15:47)
• Lessons learned from being so early to the market with the Fisker Karma (21:52)
• How the “non-committal generation” have inspired their generous vehicle leasing program (28:16)
• Predictions for the next 5 years of the auto industry (36:17)
• A timeline for the autonomous revolution (41:17)
• How Fisker nearly lost his license to drive after a high-speed chase (47:51)

Connect with Henrik Fisker:

• LinkedIn
• Twitter

Connect with Ed Bernardon:

• LinkedIn
• Future Car: Driving a Lifestyle Revolution
• Motorsports is speeding the way to safer urban mobility
• Siemens Digital Industries Software

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