The THINK City EV
Oslo-based electric vehicle maker THINK has started
production of the
THINK City EV at its new plant in Elkhart, Indiana. The
company hasn’t wasted anytime getting up to speed either, with
the first 15 vehicles delivered to the State of Indiana for use
in its government fleet this week. THINK aims to build 300 THINK
City EVs at the facility by the end of the year, with plans to
scale up production to build 2,500 vehicles for the American
market in 2011.
The THINK City is a 3-door, 2+2-seater, highway-capable,
all-electric, zero local emission car designed in Scandinavia
for fleet applications and urban commuters. It has a top speed
of 68 mph (110 km/h) and an in town range of 100 miles (160 km)
on a single charge. It can accelerate from 0-31 mph (50 km/h) in
6.5 seconds and from 0-50 mph (80 km/h) in 16 seconds.
The short time between the Elkhart plant opening and the
first vehicles rolling out the door is slightly less impressive
when you learn that the plant receives partially assembled
vehicles from contract manufacturer Valmet Automotive in
Finland, which produces THINK vehicles for the European market.
The vehicles are completed at the Elkhart plant with the
installation of electric drive trains and lithium-ion batteries
from Indianapolis manufacturer Erer1, Inc.
THINK will replicate the current production line, tooling
facilities and processes used in Finland and plans to increase
the current 25 person local workforce to more than 100 by the
end of next year and more than 415 by the end of 2013.
The first 15 vehicles produced at the plant were delivered to
Indiana’s Department of Administration on Dec. 16 and will be
used principally by the Department of Natural Resources in the
state’s park system.
“THINK found a great place to establish its business in
Elkhart, and we’re proud to be the first customer,” said
Governor Mitch Daniels, who presided over the vehicle
presentation. “We believe that the coming era of electric cars,
like the THINK City, will find its home here in Indiana.”
By early 2011, the Project Plug-IN initiative organized by
the Energy Systems Network (ESN) will place 100 or more electric
vehicles and supporting charging infrastructure with government
and corporate fleets, as well as selected individual commuters,
across the Indianapolis metropolitan area.
Meanwhile,
THINK plans to roll out
retail distribution in select U.S. cities in the second half
of 2011, coinciding with the plans to expand the production line
at the Elkhart plant. While the THINK City is currently
available in a number of European and Scandinavian countries,
the company is also looking to expand availability into Asia and
South America.
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