Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Th!nk (Think), USA
Th!nk will launch operations in America
click to enlarge
Shortly after announcements that Th!nk would be selling its wares in the U.K. and possibly Australia comes news that the Norwegian maker of small electric cars is launching operations in America. Th!nk's City electric car was designed with the American market in mind, so this news should not be too surprising. There are no hard dates yet announced regarding when the vehicle will actually be available, but having a presence in the states is surely a good sign.
Gallery: Th!nk City
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Throwback 1:51PM (4/21/2008)
What happened to their tie up with a "major" car company? The ox is a nice design, I wonder where they are with the development?
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Sindre Berg 1:59PM (4/21/2008)
I believe the major car company comment was a misquote somewhere as the only announcement we did get was the cooperation with GE, which is significant enough anyway. The press release is actually already out on Think's homepage www.think.no
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Dave 2:02PM (4/21/2008)
I think this is EXCELLENT NEWS. Come on Ox!
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hodad66 2:03PM (4/21/2008)
If the pricing that I saw is the case..... it may be a hard sell. 30k for the car and $300 per month for the battery rental? Hmmmmmm
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Mark 2:16PM (4/21/2008)
Bring it to Canada, not just the U.S please...
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phil easler 2:27PM (4/21/2008)
Finally!! Can't wait to get one.
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Charles S 2:44PM (4/21/2008)
As I have mentioned before, there is no need for an EV to be price on par with a typical car.
Say that a Th!nk was priced same as a Yaris, which I think sold around 100,000 units last year. Th!nk cannot make that many in a year, nor will there be enough batteries to satisfy the demand.
Despite a lot of interests from surveys, radical cars like an EV will take a very loooong time before it can penetrate the market in any meaningful numbers.
For now, price is probably less significant compare to the public perception of fossil fuels. If some major supply disruption occurs, and people begin to really believe that oil will double or triple quickly, even at $30,000, EVs will fly off the showrooms.
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Wave54 2:45PM (4/21/2008)
** If the pricing that I saw is the case..... it may be a hard sell. 30k for the car and $300 per month for the battery rental? Hmmmmmm **
We'll have to wait and see on pricing -- it may be more like $25K and $200/mth. for the battery lease. That's still way more than the masses will pay for a car that size and will restrict sales to a very small percentage who will pay the premium for environmental reasons.
Unless gas prices go above $5/gallon, there will probably never be a monetary savings versus a traditional subcompact getting 35 mpg. No street-side charging or quick-charge stations will rule out all but a very few condo and apartment dwellers, as well.
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A.Brien 2:52PM (4/21/2008)
The offerings in the battery car segment is horrible as of yet and nothing seem promising except maybe the volt with is on board recharger.
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KarenRei 2:55PM (4/21/2008)
"If the pricing that I saw is the case..... it may be a hard sell. 30k for the car and $300 per month for the battery rental? Hmmmmmm"
Yeah. Especially when you can get an Aptera for $27k with better stats and have *no* battery rental. The battery comes with it and should have minimal charge capacity loss over the vehicle's lifespan.
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Chris M 3:03PM (4/21/2008)
Quote from #8: "How would you like to be in that little car with an 8 ton semi rig blasting cruising by you at 75 mph on the interstate?"
With a heavy battery mounted low and a reasonably aerodynamic design, it's no problem.
But I see JL Mealer can't resist hyping his Mealymobiles, which, as far as I can tell, appear to run entirely on hot air.
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EVan 3:06PM (4/21/2008)
#11 KarenRei
The Th!nk is an actual car that's been crash tested and follows federal safety standards, and it's in production as opposed to still being in the vaporware state.
The Aptera, while cool in concept, is a $27,000 kit car that must be registered as a motorcycle to get by the safety requirements that cars must adhere to. I'd say the Th!nk is a great deal and could have a big impact.
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Dave 3:43PM (4/21/2008)
@ 13, I agree this is a "real car" and not a motorcycle. Is that true that it has met federal crash testing standards? I haven't heard that one yet...
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KarenRei 4:34PM (4/21/2008)
"The Th!nk is an actual car that's been crash tested and follows federal safety standards"
As of late November last year, they hadn't been crash tested. When did this change? Aptera, on the other hand, being designed digitally from the beginning, has been digitally crash tested in essentially every possible scenario over and over. Physical crash testing should begin in a few months.
Where's it's traction control? Where's it's 45" frontal crumple/deflection zone? Does its roof and door crush strength *double* NTSB requirements? Does it have a composite skin for strength? Is it shaped like an inverted wing for higher traction at high speeds? Tell me, in what way does it even remotely compare to the Aptera in terms of safety?
"and it's in production as opposed to still being in the vaporware state."
So's Zap. Your point? If it's a car that's not going to work out, it's a car that's not going to work out. They charge way too much for what you get.
Back to the Aptera: several prototypes already exist, they raised their final round of funding, and they're in the process of moving into their production factory. Factory tours and test drives are in 1-2 months. I was personally offered an advance tour of the factory by Steve Fambro, but unfortunately will not be able to take him up on the offer due to timing. :P
"The Aptera, while cool in concept, is a $27,000 kit car"
It is not a "kit car". It's a full-featured (actually luxury-featured -- visit streetdeck.com for example), warrantied, factory-assembled vehicle.
"that must be registered as a motorcycle to get by the safety requirements that cars must adhere to."
No, it's registered as a motorcycle because it has three wheels. It has three wheels to lighten it, reduce drag, speed up registration, qualify for HOV lanes, and reduce insurance premiums. They're still subjecting it to the same safety standards as cars (actually, more strict in most regards).
"I'd say the Th!nk is a great deal and could have a big impact."
$66k over 10 years for a vehicle that has a range of 81 to 112 miles depending on the battery pack, 0-50 in 16 seconds (!!!!), top speed of 62mph, over 250Wh/mi (compared to Aptera's 80Wh/mi), and so on.
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2008/03/think-global-ge.html
Yeah, what a great investment :P
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mike baz 4:47PM (4/21/2008)
The problem is not that the Think is overpriced, it's the dollar that has lost much value. This vehicle should be priced under 20k and would have been if the dollar hadn't gotten the beating it's taken over the last glorious 7 Bush years.
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kert 4:58PM (4/21/2008)
So, what does it have over MiEV ?
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Sindre Berg 5:05PM (4/21/2008)
Considering that the listed price for the UK is £14000 and £100 mobility pack, I dare say Think will sell for the same or lower prices in the US. Also keep in mind that the mobility pack includes free battery exchange after a few years. I agree that the Think is a bit too expensive though as it is now.
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spence 5:27PM (4/21/2008)
Yeah. Especially when you can get an Aptera for $27k with better stats and have *no* battery rental.
Sigh. Except that you can't "get" an Aptera, and it's not sure that you ever will. I heart Autobloggreen, but their are way to many clairvoyants here who seem to be "channelling" the phantomware.
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spence 5:28PM (4/21/2008)
"digitally crash tested"
Best. Phrase. Ever.
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KarenRei 7:34PM (4/21/2008)
"Sigh. Except that you can't "get" an Aptera, and it's not sure that you ever will. I heart Autobloggreen, but their are way to many clairvoyants here who seem to be "channelling" the phantomware."
I can't "get" a Think, either. I can "get" an Aptera just as much as I can "get" a Think. Aptera is only about a whopping six months in schedule behind Think. Nail them to a cross for that, why don't you.
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