Comments on: Think Announces US Electric Car Factory Plans

By: Michael Robinson

Michael Robinson — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 06:05:04 +0000

Think approached bankruptcy for a reason. Lithium ION batteries
depend on Lithium which comes from unstable unfriendly parts
of the world. There is a Lithium shortage looming. Too much
focus on Lithium ION based EVs instead of fuel cell based
EVs is a huge mistake. Nitrogen doped vertical carbon nanotubes
can replace platinum in fuel cells already and these are resistant
to CO poisoning. Battery electric cars that are not fuel cell cars
are a huge mistake. Lithium ION is already a developed technology
that doesn’t promise to get much better or cheaper. Gas isn’t going
to get cheaper, why should Lithium which is more rare?

By: jbfalaska

jbfalaska — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 17:02:13 +0000

GM announces first and appears destined to enter in the back of the pack. Typical fashion for the company.

Took GM 8 years to put together the Saturn brand and made a profit only once – now, after 20 plus years, cancelled the brand. Come on GM, take a chance on your inventions. I’m a 3 car Buick owner and recently moved over to Lincoln (2 this year). Speed up the line please. Get the Volt out there.

By: Reel$$

Reel$$ — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 00:53:55 +0000

It is a positive move for Enerdel, to have saved this Norwegian outfit from going BK. But you have to wonder just what the government in Norway, with the world’s second largest petroleum trust $+400 billion and growing – is doing letting a Norwegian alternative energy business fail? Sometimes these nations that lecture the rest of the world on conduct – do not set a very good example.

By: jake

jake — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:47:26 +0000

#134 Dave G

Simple: an EREV costs more money. If they have a gas car already, the ideal situation is they leave that car at home for longer trips and just get a small BEV (if they can make one in the $20k range it’ll be perfect) for daily commuting. This also guarantees they will make their whole commute on electricity alone.

If the EREV & BEV costs the same then it depends on if the EREV makes enough of their commute and whether they care about using some gasoline in the daily commute.

So it’s not a forgone conclusion that the EREV is always the better choice. It really depends on the price point of EREVs vs BEVs and the customer’s situation.

The thing I don’t like about the Th!nk is the battery leasing. Sure, there are some advantages, but I don’t like being tied down by monthly fees.

By: BillInInd

BillInInd — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:58:40 +0000

I’m all for BEVs but a battery lease agreement is a deal breaker for me.

By: Starcast

Starcast — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:20:29 +0000

D. Says:
March 12th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
think is a good concept. small is good, decent range. Manufacturers are finally making the right product. Now we’re gonna have to get city traffic planners to accomodate the new paradigm. For example, smallish evs gonna need their own lane on congested urban freeways full of speeding land barges, like in LA Without, it won’t be pretty. Early adopters will be slaughter like flies. T he Move to electrification will be blunted. It’s only reasonable that they get their own relatively safe space.. …In the alternative, all suvs and other large gassers could be restricted to one lane, Whatever works. I’m open.;-)

LOL LOL This is what I hear when I read your post.
I want a very small car so give me my own lane! Or better yet make every one else drive in one lane!
I want what I want it may not be safe so keep everyone else away from me.
Give me give me give me!

By: Rashiid Amul

Rashiid Amul — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:18:05 +0000

I don’t see this as a hot seller.
2 seater, $20K, plus battery lease, limited storage.

My 2¢

By: Dave G

Dave G — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:44:14 +0000

#130 Brian Says: I’ve said it before, I dont want an EREV.
I want a second car for trips around town.
————————————————————————————–
What about your first car? Why is it that most EV advocates seem to want their other family car to be a regular gas engine car and not an EREV?

By: AutoElectric

AutoElectric — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 08:43:50 +0000

I think the Th!nk is awesome. Wean us off of foreign oil at whatever the cost.

Actually I’m HOT for the Tesla Roadster, but at least this Th!nk car is more within the range of a kind of vehicle that everyone can buy.

Still – whoever said that inexpensive electric vehicles have to look like cheap toys? I wish people would just stop that. People will buy sexy looking cars. Make it look like a sports car and people will line up to buy one.

By: john1701a

john1701a — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 07:15:49 +0000

Up to 62 MPG in ECON mode confirmed
_____________________________

It will be interesting hearing those first reports. Even with just a 10kW motor, there will indeed be circumstances that provide impressive results.

But in the end, it always boils down to the overall results… the lifetime average… real-world data… not just particular situations.

SMTD