The electric
Think City has been targeting an American release for well over two years now but, like many
EVs, those dates just kept on 'a slipping. Now the cars are finally starting to hit the colonies and, as a reward for the wait, we're receiving models with more powerful batteries. The cells are supplied by Indiana-based Ener1, a new lithium-manganese pack that offers 25kWh. Those cells are said to double the car's previous expected range, up to 100 miles from 50, yet still recharge in a scant four hours -- if you're using a 240v plug. The folks at
Green Car Advisor managed a maximum of 68mph in the two-seater and, driving in a decidedly non-eco-minded way, managed 43.5 miles with 38 percent left, giving an estimated 75 miles for those with leaden right foots. That, at least, is promising, and while a $28,000 MSRP is rather a bitter pill, it's a good bit cheaper (though smaller) than the
Nissan Leaf. And don't forget that Uncle Sam would be happy to knock at least a few grand off of that price, too.
posted July 29th 2010 2:15PM
Hopefully Double A batteries will do the trick.
@pixmantrix
Apple Rechargable batteries should do the trick
@pixmantrix
This must be the new Power Wheels. My kid would love this
IIHS ratings?
If they're gonna charge 28k, at least make it less fugly. It looks like they just added a full body to a golf cart.
@engadgetcomexcludeengadget
For realz. I'd happily pay the extra 5 grand for the Leaf compared to this golf-cart-looking-mofo. Still, I welcome the EV revolution in whatever form it takes.
@steel
Being contempt will grow you complacent with these hideous vehicles. Don't let it happen!
$28,000 MSRP is a bitter pill? The Chevy Volt is $41,000 MSRP. The Tesla is over $100,000 MSRP. At least the Nissan Leaf is closer, only $33,000 MSRP. Seriously, compared to the rest of the pack, this is anything but bitter. At least this one is closer to a realistic pricing structure for the average consumers. Hopefully it will just get better as manufacturing methods get better and quantities increase.
@Vrmithrax
It's a bitter pill because the Volt has unlimited mileage and holds 4. And the Leaf has the same mileage as this but holds up to 5 people. Ask Smart how well their 2 seaters are selling in the US.
@Vrmithrax
They're also more "real" cars than the glorified golf cart shown above.
People bash the price of these cars now, but they keep forgetting these are FIRST GENERATION products.
@paul34 - you hit the nail on the head there... People want dirt cheap cars and whine when the first generations (which have MASSIVE amounts of research & development costs to consider) cost more. Well, so did VCRs when they first arrived. And flat screen TVs. And iPods. And video game consoles. They have to get into the market, get some product flowing, and make advances - then you will see the costs drop.
So, relatively speaking, as I said above, it's not so bitter a pill when you consider all the factors. If it's too much for you, then that's fine, just sit back and wait until the costs come down (like most people will).
Why did engadget delete the latest post about youtube? Is it because I commented saying "this is news I guess?" Sorry engadget. Didn't mean to offend ya
This is all great, but until electrics cost $5-10K less than the gas versions and get a decent range on a charge - say 100, 150 miles, there's no way they will be swallowed by the consumers as a general - except for the few 'green' oddballs.
I mean, I could have this environmentally-friendly golf cart, or for the same price I could have a WRX hot hatch or a GTI, both of which are tons of fun; or, for a few grand more, I could get a comfy entry-level BMW.
@whiskers
When the tech get proven on the road, and VW starts to make a sporty hatch or sedan with this, im switching. No more big oil+its so much cheaper to fuel, plus all of the environmental blah blah. The electric motor has plenty of torque and can be made with a high enough horse power to make it fun. It just needs a euro suspension and steering and it will be the fun car you describe.
Now if we could only get congress to pass cap and trade!
I want e-car with just about 30km (20 miles) range. Can someone calculate how heavy would be batteries for such a small car (or bit smaller, like smart) for 20 miles range? I wonder if it could be a suitcase-battery, so that i could take it everyday home/to office to recharge it. If it would be possible (weight would be about 10 kg at max), then it would be a great option. Otherwise it is not possible - noone will build electric recharges here for at least 20 years
What will cold weather do to the battery?
So could i drive 12 miles, then have the car sit in zub-zero temp for 10.5 hours then drive 12 more miles home?
No one has ever given me an answer to this, i even emailed the Nissan leaf people
@ekeefe41
These batteries probably have a small heater that maintains a decent temperature inside the battery pack.
@rcappo
Right... that would drain the battery.
@ekeefe41
Four 20W resistive heaters from McMaster-Carr would probably keep the enclosed area housing the batteries warm enough. And newer LiFePO4 batteries can operate in cold conditions. And while you are using some power keeping them at temperature, if they operate more efficiently, you might get more power out of them.
If you travel to Canada, there are lots of places that have plugs to connect your engine block heater to. This would just be a battery block heater instead.
its just an electric powered death trap.
@cameronsipod
Have you seen the small German cars and mid-size sedans on a crash test? Just because its small, it does not mean its a death trap. At least it would still be running while that GM, Chrysler or Ford SUV is at the shop.
Great, but would it have killed them to pay a designer to give the some style?
Ok.. So you know what is funny about all of these new GREEN cars? It takes us back to the pinto, festiva, yugo etc. DEATH TRAPS!!!! The environment trumps people being alive. I see people driving these smart cars and I just think, are they crazy??? And clearly they are NOT SMART.......
@zzzzoooooom
I haven't heard of the massive number of people getting killed in these cars on the news in the past few years...
They all have to pass the insurance agencies and government agency crash tests.
Or maybe the people that drive 'Green' cars are better drivers.
@rcappo
This is from 2009, but makes it clear the smaller cars are clearly more dangerous.
http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/13/car-crash-tests-lifestyle-vehicles-crash-test-report.html
Plus, the small cars in my opinion are a cop out allowing the carmakers to claim they are producing fuel efficient vehicles. They should be making safe cars that are fuel efficient. That is what they should be working towards. And articles like this will help push carmakers to make fuel efficient larger and safer cars.
@zzzzoooooom
The problem isn't these cars. The problem is how big SUVs and trucks are. Blame the soccer moms.
@zzzzoooooom
I'm just going to quote myself again from the post above, because you prob live in Texas and drive an F-250
"Have you seen the small German cars and mid-size sedans on a crash test? Just because its small, it does not mean its a death trap. Its the vehicles design, engineering and the quality of the materials that make it safe. At least it would still be running while that GM, Chrysler or Ford SUV is at the shop."
@rstoplabe14
You don't have to be rude. I live on the east coast and drive a hybrid.
And you should get your info correct. You can put all the safety devices you want in, but you cannot change the laws of physics. I provided a link from forbes that cites a study that proves that smaller cars are simply more dangerous...
@zzzzoooooom
You are making a big deal about green cars (ecologically, and money wise) but drive a Hybrid, that makes no sense. You drive the very thing you are against. If it is Smart Cars and Minis that you are against, keep in mind that Smart is owned by Damiler AG (also the parent company of Mercedes-Benz), and Mini is owned by Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (also known as BMW). Therefore these cars are designed and manufactured under the same standards as their bigger brothers. Meaning, that this car can crash in the German Autobahnen, and the driver will live.
I apologize I I came off as rude, but the last time I had this conversation it was with this guy from Tennessee, who owned a truck that had the same engine as a viper, and the only reason he could give me to justify its fuel consumption vs other vehicles was "how I can pass smaller vehicles with ease and it accelerates fast". This kind of pissed me off.
@rstoplabe14 : "because you prob live in Texas and drive an F-250"
So what's the suppose to mean? As if everyone in Texas drives an F-250. What a truly incorrect and stereotypical statement to say.
You've probably haven't been to Texas if you find any truth in that statement.
@Quikboy Thanks You Quickboy!
"....I mean, I could have this environmentally-friendly golf cart, or for the same price I could have a WRX hot hatch or a GTI, both of which are tons of fun; or, for a few grand more, I could get a comfy entry-level BMW."
Except you're completely ignoring the cost of securing and maintaining a steady flow of "cheap" oil for that car.
Got a calculator? How many trillions did two Gulf oil wars cost? How much did our entire foreign policy since the 2nd world war cost? How much did 9/11, an attack which occurred because we had troops in Saudi Arabia, cost? How much did the Gulf oil spill cost the economies of LA and FL? How long is the war in Afghanistan going to last? Now take the cost of oil per barrel, multiply times barrels of oil imported, and add those costs. That is what oil really costs and that is what your cheap car really costs.
How much fun are you going to have driving your WRX after your son gets killed in the next oil war?
@Whut
You forgot all the air pollution caused by cars & trucks too.
@rcappo
Thank You! People with common sense finally!!!
get bigger seats for americans! that will do the trick.
do you want a electric car?. then pick one:
a) a sport car, special for snobs that want to say "i am a rich bstard and i am a eco".
or
b) the small & cute & fluffy car, gay partner not included.
Nissan is going to hit the sweet spot with the Leaf and their EV delivery van. Cars like the Think City and Smart are just too damn small to run on American freeways, and they are only a step above the glorified golf carts that sell for $15K-$20K and can't top 35 MPH. A fair price for this vehicle is $20K tops.
Now all they need to do is make it the size of a real car instead being like Donald Duck's car...
I am saddened to be a citizen in the country that designed this hidous POS.
@Very Powerfull Codfish
Uhhhh, you're Norwegian?
@Whut Yeah. Really cool, huh? At least we invented the chhese slicer :)
These electric cars have a great future as we are gonna face an energy crisis in near future.
http://www.wellnessstarts.com/revolution-e-cigarette-reviews.html