Irvine-based Fisker will run its plug-in on Canadian batteries

DETROIT — The founder and executive chairman of Fisker Automotive Inc resigned from the cash-strapped “green car” startup on Wednesday, saying he was at odds with the automaker’s top executives over business strategy. Henrik Fisker announced his abrupt departure from the maker of the Karma plug-in hybrid in an email. He declined to describe the nature of the disagreements that prompted him to leave the company, which he founded with Barny Koehler in 2007.

The private equity funds allow the start-up Irvine firm to tap $528.7 million in federal loans for development of its plug-in hybrid Karma. Fisker Automotive Inc., the Irvine-based developer of electric cars, said it has raised an additional $115.3 million in private equity funding to develop plug-in hybrid cars.

The private equity funds allow the start-up Irvine firm to tap $528.7 million in federal loans for development of its plug-in hybrid Karma. Fisker Automotive Inc., the Irvine-based developer of electric cars, said it has raised an additional $115.3 million in private equity funding to develop plug-in hybrid cars.

The loan will go toward development and production of its Karma plug-in hybrid sedan and development of Project Nina, its next-generation plug-in. In its latest bid to help finance the car of tomorrow, the Obama administration said it would lend more than $500 million to Irvine-based Fisker Automotive Inc.

In 2009, Fisker Automotive was an exciting company: With Detroit in shambles and a huge loan from the federal government, the startup automaker had plans to change the industry. It was going to build 100,000 cars a year in Delaware and save or create 5,000 jobs. The Karma, its gorgeous, extremely efficient plug-in hybrid electric car, was on the way.

In 2009, Fisker Automotive was an exciting company: With Detroit in shambles and a huge loan from the federal government, the startup automaker had plans to change the industry. It was going to build 100,000 cars a year in Delaware and save or create 5,000 jobs. The Karma, its gorgeous, extremely efficient plug-in hybrid electric car, was on the way.