(May 21, 2012) U.S. auto-safety regulators are investigating a Texas garage fire that destroyed a Fisker Karma, a $103,000 plug-in electric vehicle, Bloomberg News reports.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sent investigators to help probe what caused the fire in Sugar Land, Texas, that Fisker learned of May 3.

"We are conducting an ongoing field inquiry for an EV incident in Texas," Harris said at a Transportation Department electric-vehicle safety forum in Washington. "We are still engaged in that activity, and no determination has been made at this time."

Lynda Tran, an agency spokeswoman, confirmed that the Texas investigation is of the Fisker fire.

Fisker, in a statement, confirmed it is aware of NHTSA's field inquiry.

"Our understanding is that such field inquiries are routine," the statement said. "We also understand that the officials looked at other vehicles involved in the fire too. The lithium-ion battery of the Fisker Karma was fully intact after the fire and has been tested and is in full working condition.

"Currently, the precise ignition source and cause of the garage fire is still to be determined. Fisker is working alongside NHTSA and insurance adjusters to help determine the exact cause."

Source: Bloomberg News