TH!NK neighbor – Ecofriendly two or four seat personal mobility
DETROIT, Jan. 10, 2000 – Ford Motor Company’s newest nameplate, TH!NK, today rolled out its line-up of zero emission products, including its TH!NK neighbor – a compact two or four seat personal mobility low speed vehicle that can be ordered on www.thinkmobility.com and delivered right to the customer’s door.
TH!NK neighbor is a battery powered vehicle, capable of speeds up to 25 miles per hour, designed for commuting within closed communities, resorts or work environments. The TH!NK neighbor also gives customers the flexibility to personalize their vehicle with choices from a list of options.
"TH!NK neighbor is the perfect choice for customers who need mobility within a relatively small, closed geographic area, like a gated community or commercial complex," said Rob Stevens, president of TH!NK Mobility, LLC. "In addition, TH!NK neighbor provides the added bonus of being an environmentally friendly zero emissions vehicle," he added.
TH!NK neighbor is constructed of an extruded aluminum space frame with thermoplastic body panels. The panels are modular and easily molded into a variety of colors. The interior is weather resistant and designed for ergonomic simplicity, function and on-board stowage.
TH!NK neighbor is powered by six lead acid batteries (72 volts total power) driving a 5000 watt DC motor with 65 ft-lb peak torque @ 1500 RPM
Range is approximately 30 miles, with recharging requiring 4-8 hours from a standard 110 volt system. Regenerative braking provides onboard charging to the batteries during stop-and-go driving.
TH!NK neighbor will come equipped with a two speed selector for private road and golf course applications. The "high" speed setting will be limited to 25 mph. The "low" speed setting will be limited to 15 mph.
TH!NK neighbor will meet the new U.S. government FMVSS500 requirements for low speed vehicles, and is designed with a number of safety features, including three-point restraints at all seating positions, AS-1 glazed safety glass windshield and 3 mph bumpers.
Customers can order TH!NK neighbor order on line at www.thinkmobility.com with factory-to-door delivery available. Or, customers can choose to deal directly with a preferred retail outlet, including participating Ford dealers.
Job #1, with deliveries immediately following, is scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year.
Final manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) has yet to be determined, but prices are expected to be about $6,000 (Note: Prices are only approximate, and will be finalized closer to the TH!NK neighbor’s on-sale date).
In addition to TH!NK neighbor, the TH!NK Mobility portfolio of zero emission vehicles also includes TH!NK bike fun (standard frame) and TH!NK bike traveler (folding frame) electric bicycles and the two seat TH!NK city battery electric car produced in Norway. TH!NK Mobility, LLC, is a limited liability corporation wholly owned by Ford Motor Company. TH!NK Group, an enterprise of Ford Motor Company, is comprised of TH!NK Mobility (battery electric vehicles) and TH!NK Technologies (fuel cell vehicles), and provides innovative environmentally friendly solutions for personal mobility.
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01/10/2000
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