Geneva '08: Th!nk announces the Ox, a new 5-seat electric car
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Geneva Motor Show, Th!nk (Think)
click the Th!nk Ox for a high res gallery
Th!nk, the Norwegian purveyor of electric cars that used to be owned be owned by Ford, has used the occassion of the Geneva Motor Show to show off their new vehicle platform concept. The Ox is a five-seat monocab design that has a space frame structure that can be used for a variety of different body styles. Besides the four-door body Th!nk is also showing a two-door coupe body. The space frame provides the crash structure and mounting locations for battery packs in the floor. The system is designed to be adaptable to different regions and applications so it can be equipped with either sodium batteries or lithium ion.
The 60kW electric motor should be able to accelerate the 3,300lb Ox to 62mph in about 8.5 seconds. Th!nk is claiming that with lithium batteries the Ox will have a range of about 120miles on the US06 driving cycle. The US06 is the new, more aggressive schedule that was added to the EPA fuel efficiency testing routine for 2008. If the Ox can actually achieve that range on US06 it should do at least as well in the real world (see our interview with GM's Pete Savagian for more discussion on driving test cycles including US06). So far we don't have any information from Th!nk on when we will actually see the Ox or something similar on the road or how much it will cost. Th!nk's press conference is tomorrow so we may get an update then.
[Source: Th!nk, thanks to Sindre and Kristoffer for the tips]
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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
3-06-2008 @ 3:17AM
Laban said...
@rgseidl:
And what would be the problem with heating up the Li-ion battery the same way when it's really cold ?
Using eletricity from the grid if plugged in, from the battery when not. Must be much cheaper since it doesn't need to be heated up to 270 C.
Or am i missing something ?
Reply
3-06-2008 @ 4:28PM
Chris M said...
Lsban, you've got it right. The LiIon batteries would give better performance than sodium nickle chloride and don't require high temp heating, thus improving overall efficiency. Unfortunately, LiIon batteries still cost more than sodium nickle chloride. Good thing they are offering both, allowing customers to decide whether they want to pay extra for better efficiency and performance.
Quote: "Actually, If they could preserve the top speed, I like to see the acceleration drop to 12 seconds, and increase the efficiency..."
The efficiency of electric motors is very high regardless of power output. Using a lower power motor would not improve efficiency, nor would it reduce the cost by much. As Martin Eberhardt put it, it feels like cheating - with electric power you can get great performance and high efficiency at the same time!
Reply
3-06-2008 @ 7:51PM
mike said...
If what Chris M says is true, then this will really be great to have this EV in the driveway. A fast eco car, I can't really believe it.
Reply
3-07-2008 @ 8:35AM
Inforthemoney said...
Everybody needs to check out ENER1, and learn about the batteries that are being discussed here. There is alote of information about this and I beleive that THINK will be using Enerdel and A123 batteries for their vechicles.A123 is not publicly traded but Enerdel is under Enei on the stock exchanges.
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