Europe’s regulatory body, the Technischer Ueberwachungs Verein (TUV) released test results showing that the Karma achieved a range of 51.6 miles in electric-only mode.

Last week, the EPA certified the new Fisker Karma PHEV for sale in the US but, as CHARGED and several other media outlets noted, the Karma’s EPA ratings for fuel economy (52 MPGe) and electric range (32 miles) were less than electrifying, especially compared to alternatives from other automakers.

So CEO Henrik Fisker must have pumped a fist in sweet vindication yesterday, when Europe’s regulatory body, the Technischer Ueberwachungs Verein (TUV) released test results showing that the Karma achieved a range of 51.6 miles in electric-only mode. This handily beats the Chevy Volt’s range of 35 miles, and takes much of the sting out of the Karma’s mediocre 20-MPG EPA rating in gasoline mode.

“We are delighted that the TUV has confirmed that most owners will achieve a 50 mile range running purely on electric during their daily commute,” said Henrik Fisker.

This is certainly better news for Fisker, but a couple of questions have not yet been answered. First, what about other figures, such as the efficiency rating? These haven’t been publicly released yet. Second, how could two different tests come up with such different results? If you are of a technical bent, and have a few hours to kill, you can read about the methodology of the TUV test here: http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/main/wp29/wp29regs/r101r2e.pdf.

Image: Fisker