THiNK Electric Car Maker Again Sets Sights on the US

After a fresh round of investment, the Norwegian firm plans to bring its small, efficient vehicles back to North America
THiNK Ox : Photo by THiNK North America

A Norwegian electric-vehicle manufacturer best known for a Y2K-era commuter-car venture with Ford is plotting a solo return to the states. Flush with cash from Silicon Valley angel investors RockPort Capital Partners and Kleiner Perkins, Caulfield and Byers, THiNK North America plans to start selling a version of its 95-percent-recyclable City car to US buyers starting in 2009. The company also plans to introduce the larger Ox (pictured) by 2010/2011.

Ford released the THiNK City model after buying parent Pivo Industries, in response to a California mandate requiring manufacturers to offer electric and other low-emissions vehicles. The minicars had a charge range of 50 miles and a top speed of 55 mph, but could only seat two people and virtually zero IKEA furniture. By 2002, Ford had sunk $123 million into the program after canning it amid a weak demand. After some coaxing by activists, Ford shipped the lease-returned vehicles back to Norway -- thus avoiding a similar debacle to that which tagged GM as a killer of electric cars. The latest CIty can reach a top speed of 65 mph and can travel up to 110 miles on a charge.

[via TH!NK North America]

6 Comments

Comments

rcra1895
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Electric, not electic.

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DotNetProgrammer
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What is the price? When will it be available? What is the battery lifetime?

Instead of cutting and pasting text from the company's press releases and web site, why not interview a some company officers and provide some useful information?

We're getting sick of all these "green" pipe dream reports. Give us something REAL.

2 out of 2 people found this comment helpful
davepr
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DotNetProgrammer: Are you really that unfamiliar with the concept of a blog?

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usernamelevi13
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once again...a very short distance car that has absolutely no help to americans.....what if you have to drive more than 2 hours?...stop and charge for a day?

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HBillyRufus
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Whether or not this car will be successful or not depends on what it will cost, the battery's lifespan, and the cost of battery replacement. I would be willing to tolerate a 100 mile limitation if the car is cheap enough.

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TheRHogue
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I think commute cars should follow the cell phone model.

Small commute cars should be bought like cell phones with monthly fees. After two years, you can exchange the car with another one which will have the latest upgrades in technology.

The dealer can recycle what it can. This forces the manufacturer to create a component based car which can be easily upgraded, perhaps at the dealership.

This creates cheap cars, with the latest technologies, which will some day drive themselves to work or locally around town.

We may still "own" a luxury car for long trips using fuels like hydrogen, ethonal or gasoline. But the bulk of energy will get shifted to electrical grid which will require more Nuclear plants, solar farms, wind farms etc...

3 out of 3 people found this comment helpful

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