FULLERTON, CA – Fisker is planning to come to market in about 18 months with a high-performance, high-end, plug-in hybrid sedan, according to the Web site www.cnet.com. The car will cost $80,000. It will go about 50 miles on a battery charge and will also come with a built-in gas engine that exists primarily to charge the battery. With the charging capability, the car can go hundreds of miles, according to Henrik Fisker, Fisker’s CEO.

With a range of hundreds of miles, the car will go farther than other electric cars coming to market. The new electric cars go only about 225 miles on a single charge at best. Granted, Fisker's car uses a little gas — something electric cars don't — but it won't burn much. This is how the Volt functions. General Motors, however, doesn't plan on coming out with the Volt until 2010. If Fisker hits its goals, it will have cars on the market in 2009. Fisker, though, is also aiming at the luxury end of the market with its alternative car, which makes it like Tesla. Its tag line is "Eco-chic."

Fisker also hopes to come out with SUVs and other types of cars. The drivetrain comes from Quantum Technologies. Quantum works with a number of companies and government agencies on alternative fuel vehicles. Initial production will be about 15,000 vehicles a year.

The company will show off a prototype at the Detroit Auto Show.