Electric Aid tries to gauge American interest in Think City
A few weeks ago, Th!nk discussed plans to enter the U.S. market with the City electric car sometime next year. If you're one of the people who thinks this is a good idea, then the Electric Air social network would like to get to know you. Electric Aid, which is not officially connected to Think in the U.S. or in Norway, has set up a registration page where they hope to collect names for an "interest list" called "Get Me A Th!nk" that will be delivered to Think at a later date. The Chevy Volt has a similar list, with over 20,000 people signed up. These are not official waiting lists and don't require any down payment (a lá Tesla), just a way to use your email address to show you're on board.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jharlan 7:25PM (4/01/2009)
I have heard the little car will come in @ 50K. It's not worth 50K, simple as that. It's not worth 40K! It's not worth 30K. What will people pay for a little bitty EV?
Reply
Sebastian 2:47PM (4/02/2009)
You're thinking about a recent story about the City in Holland:
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/03/30/think-city-might-cost-49-500-u-s-in-holland-withouth-leasin/
The Think City will be $20,000 in the U.S., plus a monthly battery fee:
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/03/12/think-city-coming-to-the-u-s-info-overload/
harlanx6 3:15PM (4/02/2009)
Thanks, Sebastian, any idea what the battery rental will run?
mudder 7:44PM (4/01/2009)
I driven a Th!nk. It's a glorified golf cart. There are better (and safer!) electric alternatives.
Reply
Tohe 9:45PM (4/01/2009)
I'm curious, which EVs top your list?
mudder 10:29PM (4/01/2009)
@Tohe. I haven't driven any EV's other than the Th!nk. But it was so tiny--like a Smart. I don't think such a small car would appeal to many in the U.S. where an oblivious Hummer driver on his cell-phone could easily mow you down and think you were just a speed bump.
Tohe 12:33PM (4/02/2009)
I know what you mean, there is a th!nk dealership some 20 miles from me and those things take half of a lane, kind of scary. I just asked because I'm on the market for an EV, but everything is either a conversion for $50,000+ or a very limited vehicle like the Zenn. I'm sort of leaning towards a mini s convertible (we get plenty of sunshine in FL).
RAN 10:13PM (4/01/2009)
jharlan, I agree. Could I be interested in the Th!nk? Possibly, but not for $30,000, and sure as hell not for $50,000. What makes them think anybody would pay that much for one? Anybody check the oxygen content lately over there in Norway?
Reply
Elliot Slater 10:45PM (4/01/2009)
More than 47,000 people have signed the Volt "wait list".
Reply
Christian 12:16AM (4/02/2009)
Not to beat this thing down, but I participated in a focus group in 1999 or 2000 where we were asked about the prospect of electric cars. We weren't told who was behind this, but they let us drive one of these Think City's in the second half of the meeting. I commented to one of the administrators that isn't this a Think and weren't they just bought by Ford? He looked at me all sideways and wondered if he should eliminate me from the group because I knew something about all of this. He didn't and I kept my $200. My impression and comments after driving the City was that it was dull. Dull in terms of styling and just ok in driving. I told them so. I am a little frustrated because Think has this great car in waiting called the Ox, which is a very modern design and is new. The City is about 10 years old now, and in my opinion, ugly. The bigger issue for me is that we don't want the world thinking that electric cars have to look and feel lame.
Reply
jpm 2:29AM (4/02/2009)
Think needs to call it quits if they can't come in under $25k for that car... let alone $50k. With tesla setting an example of $55k (or there bouts), the think should be well under that. If not, go out of business or fire all your dead weight.
Reply
ElectricAid.org 4:15AM (4/02/2009)
All you you need to get this $50K figure out of your head =)
It will never be introduced to the consumer for that price. The 50K´s comes from alot of extra taxes, battery cost, Norwegian labour cost and a very weak dollar.
When they open shop in the U.S it Will be competitively priced.
Reply
Throwback 9:33AM (4/02/2009)
I'm not sure how you guage interest when there is no price attached. Unless they plan to give them away.
Reply
flooeman56 10:26AM (4/02/2009)
Wait ...What?
This blog has been saying that tens of thousands of people have been wanting a EV that the only reason we don't have EV's be because of evil car co. I mean how many times has someone said watch " Who killed the electric car"?
Now a co. want to bring one to the U.S. and now there are "Issues" with cost and range?
What happened to Saving the planet no matter what the cost? what happened to most people don't drive over 40 miles a day
WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THE PEOPLE HERE WHO WANTED A EV????
Reply
Tohe 12:40PM (4/02/2009)
Most rational people have to take a series of considerations when buying a car. While a descent 40+ miles range may not be the issue, safety and budget are. I'm sure everyone wants to help the environment to the best of their abilities.
jharlan 3:30PM (4/02/2009)
I think in a couple of years there will be a wide variety of EVs in the showrooms and the auto manufacturers who don't have a leading offering will be firing their executives. The Think is so small it's probably going to be supplemented with larger, better models. Strategic planning is so critical when technology is advancing so rapidly. Can you imagine how it will revolutionize EVs when someone does perfect a graphene ultracapacitor system, and the element required is dirt cheap carbon? We know it's theoretically possible and It's not an IF deal, it's a WHEN deal.
Reply