I don't have access to Facebook (didn't think people still used it). The technology is intriguing for sure. Personally I'm not sure the NSX is the right application, cool factor yes, but maybe not for practicality. 100 lbs for the battery pack, 180 lbs for the motors and controller, durability/reliability/safety, drain/charge times, cost? Since they're pitching it as a performance add-on for the civic, what is the 1/4 mile before/after? 0-60? Can tires be swapped easily at the track? If they're serious about selling it as a kit, at $10k they should be providing a vast wealth of information other than "look at this cool concept" tidbits. They do show some annoying vertical video of prototype runs; and neat CAD fly throughs that explain the technology pretty well. They do sell the strong points really well.
Now, I'd be more interested in applying something like this to my 1.0L Ecoboost Fiesta for mostly cool factor and bragging rights (already gets 50mpg if I stay out of boost - and it does 15's in the 1/4 mile already). But it would be cost prohibitive with this solution since $10k is more than the value of the car, and would buy about 200,000 miles worth of fuel. Since I have rear drums, I have thought about going hub centric for a small amount of assist. I can offset some weight by ditching the massive 12V OEM submarine battery (designed for start/stop) and spare tire. Ultimately any retrofit done for function should cost less than a used Leaf or Prius, otherwise it'll just be for cool factor.
There is some technology that hasn't lifted off the ground which incorporates gearing within hub. Which allows the use of smaller underpowered motors, and yet you get the torque multiplication everyone is seeking. But I'm afraid these will end up costing way too much in order to be practical. Then you have the problem of trying to cool the gears, and what happens if gears decide to commit suicide hopefully without seizing up a wheel (again safety).
I have played in the DiY EV space a number of years ago - and I can say the technology is moving at a rapid pace on all fronts, more so now than it was 10 years ago. I do hope their technology is taken into consideration from a major entity and applied in the industry in one form or another, or they take it to full production themselves. There are a few who have great ideas and secured patents are just looking to make a bunch of money, and could care less about being green. It's almost impossible to implement a new product in the EV sector with optimal efficiency and design without already stepping on an existing patents - so in this case sometimes it inhibits forward progress for all. That's why you see a lot of these fantastic ideas get stalled out just before production, because stubborn patent holders demand insane licensing amounts. I hope that's not this case, even though their website seems to point all arrows in that direction.
It's good that Fisker isn't totally dead after swindling $140 Million from the US taxpayer.
