Why We Still Adore Our £42K Fisker EVs Despite the Company’s Bankruptcy

When car designer Henrik Fisker presented his Ocean electric SUV at the end of 2021, he informed everyone that Los Angeles At the Auto Show, his aim was to produce the planet's 'greenest cars'.

However, 'sustainable' might be the least likely term to describe the 10,000 Oceans that ultimately reached production – following the company’s bankruptcy and the subsequent withdrawal of extended backing for its sole product.

Since deliveries started in 2023, Fisker Oceans have faced numerous problems varying from minor ones like sluggish touchscreens and lack of air conditioning to severe issues including total failure of the brake system during operation.

But while Fisker itself is gone, a small but hardy group of Ocean owners have stepped into the breach to keep their cars going for as long as safely possible.

Drivers have joined forces on Facebook to exchange advice on repairing their vehicles, while some have turned to YouTube with tutorials on fixing pop-out door handles.

Overseas, a group of programmers have created an app that allows people to diagnose glitches and program new car keys.

It's an extraordinary response to an extraordinary situation that would have otherwise left owners in the lurch.

And Fisker drivers have told MailOnline they have no intention of letting their cars go - enamoured with the styling, enviable power and practicality, regardless of any less desirable qualities it might throw at them.

Included among these is Teo Bradley, who purchased his high-end Fisker Ocean Extreme in November 2023, paying £58,000.

He found himself glued to YouTube trying to find information on Fisker's collapse as word got around that the company - Henrik Fisker's second stab at large-scale car production - was in serious trouble.

As the firm collapsed along with its systems, he realised that particular functionalities vanished.

Among them, the Fisker app, which allowed users to unlock their car with their phone, as well as updates to the satellite navigation.

Nevertheless, he admits that he cannot bring himself to let go of the 'awesome' device.

'I love the styling of the car and the acceleration is phenomenal,' he said via email.

Mr Bradley has also experienced a number of issues behind the wheel.

These range from the car slamming on its brakes after spotting a non-existent 'phantom' object in front of its sensors as he pulled out the driveway to the interior lights turning themselves on as he drives along.

He did, however, brand the claimed 440mile range - obtained under the industry-standard WLTP testing conditions - an 'absolute lie'.

At best, he managed 290 miles at best on the Fisker's 113 kWh battery.

'There are still minor glitches like bright sunshine affecting the safety alerts like lane assist and emergency stop, and the usual bings and bongs,' he admits.

I'm content to stay with it provided it continues to behave.

Following Fisker’s collapse, numerous owners joined forces to keep their vehicles running—and to assist others who found the prospect of tackling it solo somewhat daunting.

Included among these helpers is Jon Lamb, an electronics engineer based in Hampshire, who has dedicated numerous hours to creating YouTube tutorials demonstrating how Ocean vehicle owners can carry out essential upkeep tasks that would otherwise be handled by Fisker, which is now defunct.

The do-it-yourself enthusiast and skilled craftsman bought his Ocean for a steal in March and has swiftly uploaded a collection of maintenance video tutorials onto YouTube using the handle. comeinhandynow .

Included among his advice and audio recommendations are instructions for replacing the vehicle’s windshield, taking off the door handles, repairing the near-field communication (NFC) reader responsible for unlocking the doors, and addressing the ‘phantom lights’ issue faced by Mr Bradley.

He has likewise introduced several changes to the vehicle – fitting gas struts along with a manual release mechanism for the hood, features that aren't typically included as standard equipment.

Mr Lamb openly told MailOnline that he purchased the car anticipating some difficulties – yet, with his lifelong experience in repairing vehicles, he was prepared even for the stubborn battery problems that cause 12-volt batteries to deplete frequently due to numerous onboard systems operating continuously.

However, he took full advantage of Fisker’s downfall, purchasing a vehicle in March for under £15,000 that had originally been priced at four times as much when new.

A line of Fiskers found in Nottingham and later snapped up by an auction house are expected to fetch the same price as they are sold over the next few months to plucky Fisker fans ready to dive in at the deep end.

'You couldn't get anything else for that money and I was prepared to take the risk,' Mr Lamb cheerfully explained.

'I'm quite a convert to electric cars now - I just think they're better. And I have had nothing really major happen.

'When it rained, it was beeping and telling me the cameras and sensors couldn't see but you realise it's just getting blinded by lights and rain blots.

'The only difficult thing has been getting insurance: only one company is covering them and I had to pay about £1,000.'

Mr Lamb is among the Ocean owners doing his bit to keep the cars going - and those backing the car are not going down without a fight.

A Fisker Owners Association was established to build up an established support network of experts and technicians to keep them on the roads.

As for fixing the software issues frying the air conditioning and the brakes, a group of Armenian software developers has created a tool called Freesker to help drivers identify issues at home.

It connects via a Bluetooth dongle inserted into the vehicle’s diagnostics socket and has the capability to reset various systems as well as reprogram automobile keys.

In a perfect scenario, these problems would have been resolved by Fisker – however, since Fisker is nowhere to be seen, the owners are taking matters into their own hands to address them.

'There are some garages offering support, the Fisker Owners Association is coming out with its own app, and there are things we can fix ourselves if you are engineering-minded,' Mr Lamb adds.

'It's what made me buy it in the first place. It's such a bargain of a car and I will probably keep it for a number of years unless something goes catastrophically wrong, which I doubt.

'Parts won't be a huge problem as some of these will end up being stripped for parts.

'If you buy one, you get a lot of car for your money. There will be people that bought one for a very high price who are displeased and have given up - but for those of us doing what we can (to keep them on the roads), it's good enough.

'I'm very pleased with it - and it's nice to drive.'

Not every Fisker owner has been happy. Last month, MailOnline spoke to Southampton marketing manager Karin Simonsen, whose Fisker Ocean packed up after suffering a series of software glitches.

She had been in the middle of preparing to hand the car back to Fisker when the company went under - but can't drive the car after a software problem left it unable to go into forward gear.

Technicians then disconnected the 12V battery to stop the alarm from whining incessantly - leaving her with a 2.5tonne brick on the driveway of her home.

'It has just been, from day one, a catalogue of catastrophes,' she told MailOnline.

The experience of an all-software car has put her off ever buying an electric motor again.

Fisker, meanwhile, agreed to wind down operations last year under a bankruptcy plan that saw US firm American Lease take control of more than 3,000 unsold cars and the Fisker server that can send updates out to cars via the cloud.

Henrik Fisker, the engineer who gave the firm its name, has gone to ground since the company filed for bankruptcy in the US and the UK last summer.

He has not responded to MailOnline's requests for an interview but he and his wife Geeta Gupta-Fisker, who served as the company's chief operating and chief financial officer, are facing multiple shareholder lawsuits.

Read more