Are you interested in a Th!nk City?

[NeilBlanchard]

Th!nk holds track record for Europe homologated EVs at Spa Francorchamps - Electric A!D

Direct link to Dutch video: Record time for electric cars on Spa-Francorchamps circuit on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[Christopher Jordan]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

It will be built in Elkhart, Indiana starting next year. Some units imported from Finland will reportedly be for sale Q4 2010. Hopefully, they make the change to the EnerDel lithium batteries (currently they use a Zebra battery), for these.

I have been keeping an eye on these about a year kind of "at the source"; Electric-aid. It looks like we may have the same source!

This is one of the California Edition Th!nks.

[Vekke]

We manufacture those Thinks At my work at Valmet Automotive, but I still havent had any chance to test drive one .

[NeilBlanchard]

You work at the factory where the Th!nk City is made? Cool! The only people who get to drive 'em are at the very end of the production line, I would suspect.

[RobertSmalls]

I'm worried about the depreciation on these first-gen BEV's.

We know the battery is only going to last 5-10 years, and it's the most expensive part of the car. That will be a large, but predictable, part of the depreciation.

Unlike cars of the past 50 years, electric cars risk growing obsolete. In ten years, you will be able to buy a BEV that is much more capable (and, incidentally, cheaper) than ones you can buy today. What's the fair market value of a Th!nk City going to be when the 2021 Focus has twice the range, cargo space, and refinement, and half the charging time? Dunno, but it might be within the budget of Christ.


But am I interested in one? Well, if the Th!nk actually comes out, and if the Th!nk + Briggs and Stratton is much cheaper than a Prius + DIY PHEV conversion, then yes, the Th~nk will have my attention.

[Christopher Jordan]

I must have ESP- my old City-EL went a few miles and the drive belt broke. Sold it just in time; so a newer Th!nk would be a great replacement.

[Vekke]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

You work at the factory where the Th!nk City is made? Cool! The only people who get to drive 'em are at the very end of the production line, I would suspect.

yep. I am at the R&D department so it is my job to test and develop products we manufacture... I have just been so busy working with other EV golf car Garia that I havent had any time to do a quick test drive.

You are right on that car which go to customers arent test drived. Test drive cars are our own...

[NeilBlanchard]

If you are interested in the Th!nk City, then you might want to take this survey:

Survey | Qualtrics Survey Software

They reveal their thinking in terms of the price of the City here in the USA: $25,000-30,000 net. I read this as after the $7,500 federal tax credit -- but then that assumes that they are selling the battery pack as part of the car, and are not leasing it.

They also ask for suggested features, and whether you would be interested in smaller or larger battery packs, and at what price difference. The "base" version has a 110-120 mile range.

[Oval_Overload]

I'd be willing to buy a smaller battery pack if it cost less. 14-18 KwH is more than enough to get me anywhere in the Twin Cities.


~Jimbo

[NeilBlanchard]

Here's great news -- they plan on producing 300 Th!nk City cars in Elkhart this year!

EVWORLD.COM : Think Begins Electric Car Production in North America

Elkhart goes to work building the world's best-selling electric car (video)

Many more to come early in 2011, too!