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First US-made Think electric cars delivered to Indiana fleet

State officials look on as the first Think City electric car was delivered to Indiana yesterday

Norwegian electric vehicle manufacturer Think has delivered its first US-built cars to the State of Indiana for use in its government fleet.

The 15 vehicles, which were shipped from THINK’s manufacturing facility in Elkhart, Indiana, will be the first electric passenger vehicles with American-made, Lithium-ion batteries used in a US fleet operation, the company said yesterday.

Think CEO Barry Engle said his company was making a strategic move to target the millions of fleet vehicles in operation in the US market for conversion to electric power.

Mr Engle said: “These fleets can jumpstart vehicle electrification in America’s cities and help push the industry past early adopters into mainstream consumer markets. Fleet sales will drive up vehicle and battery production volumes and drive down costs, which will benefit retail consumers.”

Think said vehicle fleets were a “natural platform” with which to launch electric vehicles in the US, with their defined travel routes suitable for a centralized recharging and service system.

Think City

The manufacturer is releasing its Think City vehicle for fleet applications and urban commuters – a small car that can travel 100 miles on a single charge with its lithium-ion batteries made in Indiana by Ener1, Inc.

Presentation of the 15 vehicles took place yesterday at Fort Harrison State Park, outside Indianapolis. The vehicles will mainly be used by the state’s Department of Natural Resources and its park service.

Indiana Department of Administration director Rob Wynkoop, whose agency maintains the state vehicle fleet, said: “We saw this specific green initiative as an opportunity to test alternative energy vehicles in real-life situations. We believe the state parks provide the best locations to test these vehicles.”

An initiative organized by Energy Systems Network, called Project Plug-IN, is aiming to place 100 or more electric vehicles with government and corporate fleets in Indiana.

“Our goal with Project Plug-IN is the seamless transition for consumers from gas-powered to electric cars,” said ESN President and CEO Paul Mitchell. “To make this happen requires collaboration among vehicle and battery makers, utilities and government agencies at all levels and the willing participation of fleet operators, like the Department of Administration. The response so far has been tremendous.”

THINK plans to roll out retail distribution in select U.S. cities in the second half of 2011. The retail distribution timeline coincides with the company’s plans to expand the production line at its Elkhart facility, where the company currently employs more than 25 local workers.

By the end of 2011, THINK will have more than 100 people in Elkhart building electric cars and more than 415 by the end of 2013. The company also builds the THINK City in Finland for sale in Europe.