Ford Think (Ford TH!NK)
2001-07-05 - By ciaran

The Ford THINK (Ford TH!NK) is 2 passenger electric city car which was first shown in Brussels in Oct. 1998. It is made for commuting in and around the city while being environmentally friendly, reliable, and economical. The THINK is a small car but meets all the necessary safety regulations. It is made as simple as possible and contains only 370 parts, so it is inexpensive to maintain and service. On part of the production, fewer parts also make the design phases shorter and manufacturing is simpler and the straightforward design and manufacturing requires less of the production plant. The body is constructed of polyethylene and has an ABS plastic roof. The spaceframe is a combination of a high-strength steel lower area and a welded aluminium upper. The doors are plastic over an aluminium shell. The nickel-cadmium battery pack has a projected life span of 10 years. For a recharge the THINK is plugged into a normal 220-volt electrical outlet. An 80 percent recharge takes 4-6 hours.

DESIGN
The aim in designing the new THINK model has been the creation of an attractive, dynamic and innovative vehicle. Smooth body surfaces broken by simple, defined contours, give the design its distinctive look.The concept whereby the front windscreen is placed in an extreme forward position, which results in the car appearing larger than it actually is, has been incorporated from earlier models. This creates an impression of spaciousness for the passengers, as well as playing an important role in passenger safety. The exterior design is distinguished by the two head lamp covers which help to give the vehicle its character and identity. The headlamp covers also have a functional design purpose, taking the place of a bonnet section and thereby simplifying both bulb replacement and beam adjustment. The oblique lower door-line by the rear bumper, which has its technical purposes, also adds to the car's dynamic appearance. The doors slope into the lower bodyline giving a unique impression when opened. The thermoplastic bodywork is resistant to dents and scratches and completely corrosion-free. The car's most fascinating detail though, is probably the gear lever. Located on the dashboard, this resembles a gear cylinder rather than a gear lever.

BATTERY
Water-cooled batteries with a long life Until the present day, so-called lead-acid batteries have dominated the car market. Used to start conventional motor vehicles, they have also been utilised in electric cars despite their disadvantages of long charging time, being heavy and having a relatively short life-span (2 -3 years). In contrast, THINK is equipped with nickel-cadmium batteries which have a superior capacity and a 10 year life-span. In addition, Ni-Cd batteries perform better at low temperatures. Battery life has been considerably improved on THINK during the last few years by the utilisation of water-cooling. The battery's life is calculated under normal driving conditions and, like the rest of the car, is completely recyclable. Battery charging on an electric car - duration of battery charging The battery charge time for a THINK is 6 - 8 hours for complete re-charge.In Oslo, Norway, there currently exist a number of charging stations that offer freere-charging of electric cars. If you only wish to ¨top up¨ the power when the ¨tank¨ dips toward empty and you still have some driving to do, a rapid-charge takes no more than 20 - 30 minutes. Charge stations for home and work use are simplicity itself - just plug the cable directly into a domestic socket!

SAFETY
When it comes to safety regulations, there is no basic difference between an electric car and any other car. THINK's vehicles have undergone rigorous test programmes courtesy of recognised international testing institutions. The tests carried out includes comprehensive collision testing, mechanical strength tests, environmental and endurance tests.Under the thermoplastic body THINK has a reinforced passenger compartment constructed in aluminium and steel. The vehicle is designed to meet modern safety standards including the strict new European enforced in the autumn of 1998. The collision testing was conducted by PARS GmbH in Germany, who also undertake such tests for the major European car manufacturers. The results achieved by THINK meets all safety regulations with good margins. Comprehensive endurance tests have been carried out at MIRA (Motor Industry Research Association) in England. THINK´s working partners in the field of safetyDuring the car's development phase THINK have worked closely with the leading European experts in the field of automobile-safety.

• Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH)/University of Zurich, Switzerland
• Lotus Engineering, England
• Hydro Raufoss Aluminium, Denmark
• PARS, Germany

  TH!NK will conform with both current and future safety requirements
  
  

• Low centre of gravity, excellent road-holding
• Steel and aluminium safety frame
• Side impact beams in the doors
• Driver side airbag
• Front and rear deformation zones
• Battery separated from passenger compartment
• Seat belts with pre-tensioners
• Anti-slip seats
• High-mounted brake lights
• Heated front and rear windscreens

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