Six Electric Car Companies That Aimed Big — And Failed

Earlier in the week we introduced you to Faraday Future, a Californian startup hoping to take on Tesla with a whole brigade of proven talent. It sounds promising, but of course, we have to remain skeptical.

There have been plenty of upstart companies that have tried and failed—for one reason or another—to build the world’s next great electric vehicle. Let’s look back fondly on those who have come up short.

Aptera

Around the same time Tesla and Fisker were getting together ideas for their electric cars, there was Aptera. The Calfornia-based company was founded in 2002, and created one of the first electric vehicles with an impressive range of 300 miles. It was dubbed the Typ-1 and featured a radical space ship-like styling.

RELATED: Check out the 2011 Aptera Concept Car

By 2008, the company was struggling, funneling through a number of different CEOs. And by 2011, they closed their doors altogether due to lack of funding.

Fisker*

Oh, Fisker. Where do we start. Granted, the former American automaker never did produce a purely electric vehicle in the Karma (that’s what the asterisk is for). But at a time where Tesla was coming into the limelight, Fisker was the closest thing to competition in terms of powertrain and design.

RELATED: Check out images of the Fisker Atlantic Concept Car

In 2007, Fisker began producing the Karma hybrid sedan out of its Orange County, California facility. From the gate, it was met with criticism. Fisker was sued by Tesla claiming they stole technology, though, they won the lawsuit forcing Tesla to pay $1.1M in legal fees.

Then in 2012, Fisker shut down all production and searched feverishly for new investors. It wasn’t until two years later that Chinese investors Wanxiang agreed to buy the former automaker.

Fisker hopes to be back on the road in the next few years.

Coda