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TH!NK Gets Serious About Ox Electric Car

Life hasn't been easy for electric carmaker TH!NK. The company, adopted by

The funky little Ox looks a bit like a smart forfour, but it's a pure electric car. (Photo: TH!NK)

Ford before the new millennium, then dumped for sale and shortly thereafter having declared bankruptcy, is back on track thanks to new Norwegian investors. Lately, TH!NK has been busy developing a new electric car for the real world.

On display at this year's Geneva show is the Ox, a monobox-style vehicle that's roomy enough for five. It features a spaceframe design that was specifically developed around an electric car's needs. Its battery pack, for instance, is located under the floor of the vehicle, which makes it safer and roomier. TH!NK has a number of configurations for the Ox, including a three-door hatch and a sports car. The company is pretty serious about marketing the Ox globally, including in North American markets.

The Ox has a 60 kW electric motor, will accelerate to 60 mph in 8.5 seconds, and in the process produces zero tailpipe emissions. It weighs 3,300

Its battery will last a little less than 120 miles in the real world; good enough for most people. (Photo: TH!NK)

pounds, which is about what a Volkswagen Jetta weighs, partially due to its heavy batteries. On that note, TH!NK is developing two different battery types for the Ox, one is lithium ion while the other is sodium-based.

The biggest downfall for electric vehicles has been range - they simply can't go far enough on a single charge to meet the needs of consumers who are used to regular gasoline-powered cars. Just look at the Tesla Roadster, for instance. During development, its range dropped significantly from the numbers its promoters were touting when first announced. TH!NK says that the Ox will be able to travel 120 miles between charges, based on the recently revised EPA fuel economy testing cycle. That should be more than plenty for most consumers, especially since the revised testing methods have proven to (more) accurately reflect real world conditions.

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