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Ford to Introduce TH!NK City EV in First North American Demonstration Program

6 December 1999

Ford to Introduce TH!NK City EV in First North American Demonstration Program

    WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- Ford Motor Company has
officially announced plans for the first North American demonstration program
for its TH!NK city battery electric vehicle.  The company made the
announcement at the monthly meeting of the Washington chapter of the Society
of Automotive Engineers (SAE).
    The first vehicles are slated for operation at the Presidio, a self-
contained eco-friendly community located in San Francisco.  Ford plans to
provide TH!NK city vehicles to the Presidio starting in the middle of 2000.
The project's goal is to integrate with the existing public transportation
infrastructure, supplying environmentally friendly transportation for
Presidio-based employees, in keeping with the Trust's mission of developing
and promoting sustainable ecological solutions.
    The Presidio is a former military base, now a national park, that is being
developed as a model of an environmentally responsible community.  It will be
comprised of educational, business and cultural organizations and residential
housing.  The TH!NK city will provide zero emission commuting for Presidio
residents.
    "The Presidio is a unique opportunity to put our TH!NK city in a real
world environment," said Rob Stevens, director of TH!NK Mobility at Ford Motor
Company.  "Electric vehicles prove their worth in stop-and-go city driving
because they don't have the tail pipe emissions of a standard gasoline-powered
vehicle," added Stevens.
    The TH!NK city demonstration program is just one of Ford's efforts to
promote environmentally responsible transportation through partnership
programs.  These partnerships provide locations that help generate real world
operating data and public interest in environmentally responsible vehicles.
    Ford's TH!NK city is a zero emission battery electric vehicle and a
responsible solution for people who want the convenience of personal mobility
without compromising their commitment to preserving the environment.  It
provides comfortable transportation for two adults and is designed for urban
driving, with a range of approximately 50 miles and a top speed of about 50
miles per hour.  Recharging of the batteries is via standard 220 volt/16 or 10
amp outlet, requiring approximately eight hours after a full drive cycle, or
approximately five hours to achieve an 80 percent charge.  Most of the vehicle
is recyclable, including its nickel cadmium batteries and thermoplastic body
panels.
    The TH!NK city went into production in November 1999 in Norway.  Ford has
plans to import up to 700 of the vehicles over the next two years for other
demonstration programs in North America.