This Fisker Ocean has over 10,000 miles and is still running strong. This is despite Fisker going bankrupt and selling its assets.
The Fisker Ocean was supposed to be one of the many “Tesla Model Y killers.” Although it was a promising electric car, its fate was sealed after the car manufacturer behind it went bankrupt. Approximately 11,000 units were ever manufactured, all of which are subject to two hardware-related recalls that have yet to be resolved.
However, used Ocean EVs barely sell for less than $25,000 online, making them a fairly attractive option, though not one for the faint of heart. There are many stories of brick car owners. Service options are few and far between, and there are very few replacement parts available, so the prospect of owning an electric car from a bankrupt, unproven automaker is daunting, to say the least.
But not all Ocean EVs are basket cases. Some owners, like the one in the video below, have driven their cars for over a year and over 10,000 miles with very few issues.
This limited edition Ocean One electric vehicle was delivered on October 26, 2023, and has since covered 11,380 miles. Before I get into the details – including some interesting modifications – I’ll make this clear: the car has never stranded its owner, which is reassuring.
Now, for the issues. On delivery day, the car’s small rear quarter windows did not roll down and there were several paint blemishes. The air conditioning system’s vents and unit went a little crazy and the Bluetooth connection was lackluster. All of these issues have been fixed, some of which required a visit from a mobile technician – back when Fisker was still in business – while others have disappeared with software updates.
Speaking of software, the car runs on the latest software version 2.2. This is the last iteration offered by Fisker before agreeing to its liquidation status, meaning owners will never benefit from features like Adaptive Cruise Control, which Fisker promised but never delivered.
But there is some hope. The Fisker Owners Association, a volunteer group, was a big part of the bankruptcy case and gained access to the car’s core software, as well as the diagnostic tool needed to fix the problems. Volunteers may step up and add new features to the cars, but at this point, it’s too early to know what will happen.
Some creative modifications have been added to this Ocean EV, such as a 12V battery cable accessible from under the windshield. This is used to keep the low voltage battery charged, because if it dies, the entire car becomes a brick. The door handles won’t come out, and even if they do go inside, the car won’t start.
Another modification is a hidden switch mounted under the dashboard. When used, it essentially cuts off power to the infotainment system just as you would by removing the appropriate fuse and then putting it back again. As it turns out, the center screen on your Fisker Ocean tends to go blank or freeze up, and the quick and dirty solution is to remove the fuse. This modification means the owner will no longer need to access the fuse panel, which is very smart.
When it comes to efficiency, the average after 11,380 miles is 0.32 kWh/mile or 3.1 mi/kWh. The Ocean EV also has a solar array on the panoramic glass roof. In this case, the photovoltaics added 20 kilowatt-hours of energy in a year, but that’s because the car was mostly parked inside a garage or in the shade.
After Fisker’s bankruptcy, it’s not clear what will happen with the Ocean EVs’ Internet connectivity and with TomTom’s navigation services. The owner of this car said he never received a map update and that the internet connection is still strong.
It’s a lot to take in, that’s for sure. But for the right price, I’d definitely be tempted to get one, because I know all too well what the consequences could be. What about you?
