AnOutsider I would prefer not to debate your opinion. However, I have owned an Fisker since 2012 and followed every up down and sideways issue as well as being on Fisker's customer council. I applaud Tesla for not going the dealer route. Fortunately, here in ATL the Fisker dealer had two dedicated sales people who understood how to sell the technology. Their dedication and expertise allow the dealer here to sale nearly 5-7% of all the Fiskers sold in the US. Other dealers took the traditional approach, which frustrated Henrich Fisker (CEO and designer). Tesla recognized "salesmen" in dealership are not much more than greeters, who typically don't understand the new technologies coming in newer vehicles. Even the dealer here realized that trying to sell the Cadillac ELS (their version of the Volt), it was going to be a challenge.
I would differ with the article on the demand for EV's being down solely due the price of Oil. That is only part of the issue... the other part is dealers don't invest the education in salesmen trying to make commission and pay down a floor plan.
During my Karma ownership, I have followed each move by the Department of Transportation, Software changes and hardware issues (which have been minimal). The battery issue in the article was stated as "fire". It was never the case, the only vehicle that caught fire had a defective blower fan and the battery remained intact. The issue with the A123 battery was a failure of a connection in the battery cooling system, which would cause the battery the shut down. Unfortunately, a defective battery was in a vehicle purchased by Consumer Reports. As stated there were many issues, far to complex to go into here, so I suggest that is not "form over function". Keep in mind then concept is well proven in Electric Locomotives -- the diesel produces electricity to drive electric motors. The same function as the Fisker and Volt. No one can argue the "form" of the Karma is eye-catching.
Again I applaud Tesla on the road it has chosen, and Elon on how Tesla handled the battery issue on the Tesla by installing the Titanium Plate as well as taking the "fodder" away from the press. Fisker didn't publish the results, therefore the circular journalism took over. One can debate whether hybrid or fully electric vehicle is the better alternative. I will not dare venture into that debate here. Keep in mind, the Hendrick Fisker also designed the body of the original Model S Prototype before he and Elon Musk decided to part ways.
To your prior commit on the Roadster, please research. Here is just one article:
​Elon Musk Admits The Tesla Roadster Was A Hack Job
The Roadster was a proof of concept vehicle... to that end take a Lotus Elise, gutting it, and replacing with the EV internals was challenging at best and nearly bankrupted Tesla. To Musk credit, he stood by the concept and became the primary visionary for Tesla, and improved the Model S (delayed) and the Model X (multiple delays) to the eventual benefit of Tesla Motors. Fisker was selling a car -- Tesla is selling a automotive concept to change of habits around the world away from producing CO2.
Not a debate being right or more right -- As an owner of a Fisker four years, I respectfully may have a little more first hand information.