I Think I Like It
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April 30, 2008
Going to the pump these days is just plain painful, even with my compact economy car. I guess that’s why the announcement of a new, affordable electric car that can actually tool along the freeways without getting mowed over made my ears perk.
The Los Angeles Times announced last week that a Norwegian automaker is planning to bring its low-priced electric car (Think City) to the U.S. by the end of next year.
The Think City will travel up to 110 miles per charge, top out at 65 mph, and cost less than $25,000. Perfect for my daily commute.
Other important points are that it seats only two people and has mostly a plastic exterior—to lessen the weight, I suppose. The good news is the plastic is 95 percent recyclable, the bad news might be its safety. Here’s what Think’s Web site had to say about that:
“The car is equipped with ABS brakes, airbags and three-point safety belts with pretensioners. The advanced frame is designed to absorb energy and distribute it away from the passengers’ compartment. Even the dashboard and knee padding have been developed to absorb impact. To further protect the driver and passengers, both doors have side impact bars and pusher blocks made of shock-absorbent materials.”
Some safety test results might be nice to see. Meanwhile, there are plenty of pics of the car at Think’s Web site.
—Gabrielle Harradine, Assistant Editor