Low-Cost Electric Cars On The Way

Los Angeles Times:

Norwegian automaker Think Global said Monday it planned to sell low-priced electric cars to the masses and will introduce its first models in the U.S. by the end of next year.

The battery-powered Think City will be able to travel up to 110 miles on a single charge, with a top speed of about 65 mph, the company said. It will be priced below $25,000.

Oslo-based Think said venture capital firms RockPort Capital Partners and Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers had made investments to fund its entry into the U.S. under the auspices of Think North America.

Read the whole story: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[NoPCZone]

Detroit blows it again.
Ford owned this company and invested significant money and then dumped it a couple of years back.

They sat three strikes and you are out in Baseball.

Detroit stopped investing in electrics, hybrids and other technology during the late 1990's and early 2000's chasing huge, gas guzzling SUV's and are now caught (again) leaning the wrong way.

Let them go insolvent. They do not deserve to survive.

[chicago25624]

Still waiting on the dems to do what they said.

April 24, 2006, Pelosi said, “Democrats have a commonsense plan to help bring down skyrocketing gas prices by cracking down on price gouging, rolling back the billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies, tax breaks and royalty relief given to big oil and gas companies, and increasing production of alternative fuels.” The letter cited policies put in place during the GOP control of Congress that the Speaker claimed had raised prices on American consumers to benefit oil companies.

“Once a nightmare scenario, $4 gasoline is now a very real possibility of becoming a summer staple,” the letter stated. “In some cities, including San Francisco and Chicago, it is already a startling reality.”

So where is this great plan?

[pbfishtaco]

Obstructionist Republicans, especially in the Senate (calling the Lieberman Party), are doing all they can to label this Congress a do-nothing. They would have a long way to go to out-do the previous one however.

Plans to open the strategic oil reserve, and roll back tax breaks for the wealthiest corporations on earth have been repeatedly blocked or stripped from legislation since the new congress formed in the wake of the most corrupt and ineffectual (except for big business) congress in our nation's history. The current price of oil has more to do with the increasingly worthless dollar, and sheer greed of OPEC and the oil industry. Don't kid yourself.

[Arvidurson]

Hello from Oslo!
This is a city car only, and an efficient one! You can park 2 of them for the space of one ordinary car.65 Mph is good enough for the inner city driving.

The fuel is very expensive in Norway (as today: 10,9 $ for 1 US Gallon) so Think is a very good investment in Norway. You also park the Think for free and are allowed to drive it on the bus fast line (Norwegian environmental lows)

Americans would have built it much more efficient and much cheaper. Combined with the battery, solar and wind energy industry it can mean millions of secure jobs for Americans.
So stop building fuel thirsty monsters and Think. Think! Maybe Norwegians should have invited your coming president Mr. Obama for a chat. 

All the best!

AA

[SmellyOne]

I'm glad electric cars are still in the mix.

The problem is that most electricity is made in a non-green way. We need solar derived electricity to power these vehicles.

[Earl]

So put it on your own roof.

[Podewumun]

LOL! Some folks lack a problem solving gene, earl.

[torrrep]

Top speed of 65 mph? Driving at top speed means you are maxing out your car's performance. The speed limits in many states is 70 MPH. And most people drive an average of 10 MPH OVER the speed limit. Does anyone REALLY want to be sitting in this toaster traveling 15 MPH slower than average?

[Earl]

And at $25k it's really not "low-cost," although based on its description, it does seem "cheap."

[dadw5boys]

HERE IS A MUCH BETTER ALL ELECTRIC CAR -- ZENN MOTORS

http://www.feelgoodcars.com/index.html

[homas]

$25,000 is NOt a low cost car. Especially for a rollerskate.

[choada777]

It said, 'priced below $25,000'. So I'm guessing it'll be $24,999.

[DatelessNerd]

Fuel-efficient, environmentally-responsible transportation needs to be marketed the way Miller Lite beer was back in the 1970's.

Lite was initially considered "sissy beer" and/or "diet beer" until a brilliant advertising campaign that featured tough-guy ex-jocks like Bubba Smith and Dick Butkus. Now no one thinks twice before ordering Lite.

When guys get the cue from alpha males that efficient autos are okay--and that it won't hurt their chances of getting laid--they'll run out and buy them.

(Note to Howard Dean: This is also the way you need to market the Democratic Party.)

[MsLiz]

What happens when a plastic Think gets hit by a Ford Expedition? I don't want to think about it.

[ohiomark]

If, while driving one of these toasters on wheels, you get broad sided by a Hummer H2, consider yourself toast.

[dadw5boys]

NOT TOO MANY HUMMERS ON THE ROADS THESE DAYS CAN;T AFFORD THE FUEL!!!

[ohiomark]

All it takes is one.

[totalliberal]

Hummers aren't are not nearly as tough as you think they are. Check out the damage on the little truck that hit it. You could practically drive it away.

http://www.car-accidents.com/2007-auto-crash-story/11-7-07-hummer-crash-pic-2.html

[ceasenake]

A $25,000 electric car. With the price of electricity in SoCal you would probably still do better with a Prius, but it helps to expand the options - maybe it will find a niche.

Nice story on Earth Day!

[mmckinl]

Great News !

The problem is the price. The Prius has two systems, gas and battery and sells for thousands less.

A true battery electric vehicle could be mass produced for well under $15,000. BEVs have far fewer parts, use less material and are easier to assemble.

[googlymoogly]

$25,000 is cheap if your Bill gates....

[MsLiz]

If my Bill Gates what?

[CountryBeforeParty]

Well... is each car assembled in Norway, or will they have plants here? If they are coming from Norway you have to factor in transportation costs, and the value of the Euro versus the Dollar.

[mmckinl]

They said they would be assembled in southern California.

They need to get the price down below $15,000 to be competitive.