Th!nk City

Before you get too excited about the introduction of the Th!nk City—and there’s much to feel good about—consider this key question about the all-electric highway-capable car expected in the United States around 2010:

Would you pay about $28,000 for a two-seater car that has a maximum speed of 65 miles per hour—and a driving range of 125 miles with a four-hour recharge time?

That proposition will seem more than reasonable to a growing number of urban dwellers with reasonably deep pockets and a keen desire to ride petroleum-free—especially if the garage mate to the Th!nk City is a more sizable longer-range vehicle. (Others might think it's nuts to buy a two-seater with limited range for the same price as a loaded Toyota Prius.)

With 17 years of experience in manufacturing electric vehicles, Th!nk could become a leader in the emerging EV market in the United States. In a field which has more than its share of electric snake oil salesman, Th!nk, formerly owned by Ford, has the experience and history worthy of trust. The company is on its sixth generation of the Th!nk City.

Th!nk will further dispel stereotypes about small electric cars by loading the City with all kinds of safety features and creature comforts. Standard features include ABS brakes, airbags, three-point safety belts with pre-tensioners, central locking, power steering, electric heater, electric windows and powered mirrors. Options include air conditioning, a heated windscreen, full-length sunroof, a radio/CD/MP3 player, USB inputs, Bluetooth phone connectivity, GPS and multimedia systems, alloy wheels, a roof rack, and extra rear child seats with three-point seatbelts.

Battery Plans

But there’s one customer option that may short-circuit the brain of a electric car shopper: what battery to buy. Th!nk City is apparently planning to give buyers three different choices for battery: a 28 kWh Zebra sodium nickel chloride pack, a 26 kWh Li-ion pack from Enerdel and a 19 kWh Li-ion pack from A123Systems. Consumers will need help figuring out which way to go on this choice. To make matters more confusing, Th!nk also may use a battery leasing program. With this approach, the automaker owns and maintains the battery, and the customer pays a monthly fee of about $300 for the battery along with electricity and insurance. If the battery craps out, Th!nk gives you a new one. The idea, designed to build trust in the new technology, sounds promising.

The first Th!nk City EVs began rolling off the production line in Norway in late 2007. At that time, Jan-Olaf Willums, the company’s chief executive, said, “This project is on time and the prototype phase is over. We are building full production cars with all the right components from the right suppliers.” In July 2008, the company said it was producing cars for the European market at a rate of three to five a day, rising to 20 a day by the end of the year. Willums told the Green Wombat blog, “Of course, like any new vehicle launch we are having occasional new issues arise and teething problems to overcome.”

Think United States

Plans for the US are a bit more vague. Richard Blundell, vice president of international business development, told HybridCars.com, "Th!nk established a joint venture in the US for the assembly, distribution, retailing, and service of Think EVs." Blundell added, "It will be entirely up to this new entity to establish pricing, market launch timing, and retailing strategy.” Demonstration projects for the Th!nk City in the US will begin sometime in 2009.

In other words, patience will be required for Th!nk to deliver on its promises—despite the growing team of executives from Ford and Saab, who have smelled a big opportunity and decided to join Th!nk. Even more patience will be required for Th!nk’s still more practical follow-up to the City car: the TH!NK Ox (pronounced Oh-ex) electric five-seat car crossover sport utility vehicle. No hints about if and when the Ox might be rolling into an American showroom.