Inhabitat » Super Cute Electric Zero Emissions THINK car

March 4, 2008

Super Cute Electric Zero Emissions THINK car

by Emily Pilloton

Think car, THINK electric car, electric car, zero emissions vehicle, zero emissions car, THINK automotives, THINK vehicle, compact car, green transportation, sustainable cars, transportation tuesday

If you’re a fan of the Mini Cooper but want something a little greener, the Norwegian THINK car might just be your answer. It’s compact, it’s electric, it’s a zero-emissions zippy little car that’s a feat of design and engineering. Topping out at 100 km/hr and running for 180 km on a single charge, THINK is a lot of power for such a tiny thing. All the other systems are well-thought out too, with 90% of the energy going straight to the engine, compared to traditional combustion engines that lose up to 70% of their energy to heat and friction.

Think car, THINK electric car, electric car, zero emissions vehicle, zero emissions car, THINK automotives, THINK vehicle, compact car, green transportation, sustainable cars, transportation tuesday

The vehicles are currently only available in Europe, and are even backed by local and country-wide incentives in some instances. In London the Think City is exempt from the congestion charge, and in Italy access to certain city centers is only open to zero emissions vehicles. In Norway you can drive in special public transport lanes the entire way to work. It’s great to see well-designed electric cars like THINK getting the broader support they need.

If only we could get some THINK cars on the streets of San Francisco or New York!

+ THINK

Think car, THINK electric car, electric car, zero emissions vehicle, zero emissions car, THINK automotives, THINK vehicle, compact car, green transportation, sustainable cars, transportation tuesday

17 Responses to “Super Cute Electric Zero Emissions THINK car”

dave stanford Says:

March 4th, 2008 at 8:34 pm

Where do apartment dwellers recharge their cars?

oakling Says:

March 4th, 2008 at 9:05 pm

I thought these just started being sold in the US. My girlfriend saw one in a parking lot in Oakland this weekend!

dave robinson Says:

March 4th, 2008 at 9:46 pm

I think I am right in saying that this car is about £15000 and you have ti hire the bateries so it seems extremely expensive to me. I was looking at the Revo Buster which I think is a very nice looking car and is just under £5000 which is more in my range. As regards the UK with road pricing where we will pay for the amount of milles we travel coming up and no doubt the exemptions being discontinued when the electric car gets popular the financial benefits are most probably short term in the UK and we have to fact up to the fact that the motorist in the UK always has been and always will be to the government a Milch cow, For me its getting out of the clutches of the oil industry that appeals to me.

Viola Says:

March 4th, 2008 at 10:26 pm

Believe it or not, there was already one attempt here in the U.S. to market an electric car by Saturn. It was hugely popular, with many vehicles pre-sold, and what happened?? As always, the oil industry won… for more information on this little known piece of the ugly (recent) history of America, check out the film/documentary”Who Killed the Electric Car” (2006).

dave robinson Says:

March 5th, 2008 at 2:49 am

No way is that going to happen this time, the oil companies or whoever else tries will not stop the electric car this time The pure electric car is going to happen and I,m hanging onto my old Nissan Micra until a completely viable one appears and it will. The only trouble with the electric car is the government robbing its owners blind.

Hugo Says:

March 5th, 2008 at 4:28 am

Nice, now that’s some serious piece of design. I’d love to have one, and I’m a huge fan of the Otto engine (this in combination with my preference for green design is killing me). A great looking green aternative. But, indeed, if the car is 20.000 euro’s it would be to expensive, also for me, and thus killing it’s own market. Too bad…

Bart Ziegler Says:

March 5th, 2008 at 6:40 am

Pressure the oil companies.
Tax the oil companies.
charge the oil companies for pumping oil from federal lands
Chevron sits on an electric car NOW, certainly cheaper than $30,000 usa

Robin Capper Says:

March 5th, 2008 at 7:20 am

Except they are very epensive, and not very good.

michael bailey Says:

March 5th, 2008 at 10:04 am

Ther is a quebec made electric car now available in the US- it is called the ZENN (zero emissions no noise)

Here is the web link

http://www.zenncars.com/

michael bailey Says:

March 5th, 2008 at 10:07 am

Oh by the way, there is a speed restriction with these cars. And they are not expensive- just around $12,000.00

Cathy Says:

March 5th, 2008 at 11:13 am

I visited the local ZENN dealership in Mesa, Arizona and was told that due to the fact that the cars had to be registered as golf carts, they were adjusted to only go 25 mph. This is the only electric car I have found that has air conditioning (a must in Arizona) and all I get is the run around. My insurance says they will cover it IF I can get it registered as a street car but of course I can’t. I’ve written to my State representatives asking what the are doing about this situation (obviously nothing as they has been the level of response). I will keep writing - I think the newspaper is next. I know Americans are famous for I WANT IT AND I WANT IT NOW - guess I am truly an American. I really don’t like being told I can’t have an electric car (unless it is made by GM and we all know about GM and killing the electric car). Where is the free economy???

mulad Says:

March 5th, 2008 at 12:12 pm

Considering that you can get a Smart ForTwo or even a 5-door Aveo for nearly the same price as a ZENN, I don’t necessarily consider a ZENN to be cheap. This is mostly because it doesn’t have all of the safety features of a true car and hasn’t been through all of the crash testing that the Smart and Aveo have, so it’s limited to 25 mph and can only go on roads with a speed limit of 35 mph or lower (though some places might have exceptions). Considering that many of the surface streets in my area have speed limits of 40 or 45 mph, I’d have to plan my routes carefully. If you can live with its limitations, then go ahead and get it, but it’s not for me.

Now, the Th!nk has been crash tested to some extent (though I’m not sure if it’s tested enough to get a rating yet). It’s got airbags, ABS brakes, and other true car features. It has a top speed of 65 mph, meaning that it could achieve the speed limit on any road within about ten miles of my home, and would still be legal on the rural Interstates in my region which go up to 70.

I’ve heard the Th!nk is going to be sold for £14,000 in the U.K. If you do a raw exchange rate, that works out to $27,784. Plus £100+ ($198+) a month for the battery rental. However, vehicle costs in the U.K. seem to vastly outstrip the exchange rate. For instance, the cheapest VW Jetta costs £15,105 in the U.K., while it goes for $16,990 here. While I doubt the Th!nk would quite follow that same pattern, I’d still expect it to have a base cost of $20,000 or less. Considering that maintenance costs would be virtually zero and fuel costs would be about 1/4 that of a Prius, it could work out to be pretty attractive to a lot of people. Still, I think I’d cringe a bit paying the battery fee each month since the fuel bill for my current car usually runs about $60 per month, (though my car cost about $24k)

SC Says:

March 6th, 2008 at 8:59 pm

I actually tried to drive 25 when dropping my son off at school. The posted speed limit the route is 25 mph most of the way, and 35 the rest. I impeded the flow of traffic the whole route, and I left before the morning rush. I was considering the Dynasty IT. They even sell a cute little electric truck.

Zero Energy and Green Building in New Homes | Super Cute Electric Zero Emissions THINK car Says:

March 7th, 2008 at 4:09 pm

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MBL Says:

March 8th, 2008 at 1:09 am

looks like a bit of shit. All plastic panels, hope its recycled materials/ recyclable after it gets smashed by a bmw. I really want a hybrid/electric/hydrogen/something green but this car is for more or a niche market. I like what Ford and Saturn are doing… making cars/ suv hybrids that people actually can get some real world use out of. Now if only they can increase the efficiency and lower costs. That would be a start.

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PaTrond Says:

May 1st, 2008 at 7:37 pm

Ford is not the owner of Think anymore. They vought it in 2001(I think) and sold it in 2004 back to Norway. Now It’s 100% Norwegian and the only car manifucturer we got left.

This current car is UGLY! But new is coming, saw a concept of it and it looks much better =) Forgot the name =/

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