Think? Aptera? Which electric car will you drive
By Susan Wilson
Think and Aptera are two very different electric cars being built in California. Both cars are two seaters and can be driven on the highway. Each car will go between 110 and 120 miles before needing a charge. From there the cars differ dramatically.
Think City will have a traditional automobile appearance with 4 wheels and a top speed of 65 miles an hour. The expected range between charges is 110 miles and will cost about $25,000. Unlike most cars, Think City will have a sodium battery. The company behind Think City, Think Global, is expecting this car to be a mass market seller, selling between 40,000 and 50,000 per year in two years. Think cars meet all American and European safety requirements and are 95% recyclable. The American version of the car is expected to be built in Southern California with the first cars hitting the showrooms in 2009.
Aptera is a decidedly different car than the Think. “Aptera” means wingless flight which describes the aerodynamic body. The general design of the car is futuristic. The doors will open like wings and it only has three wheels. The “car” is considered an enclosed motorcycle because of its 3 wheel configuration. The two wheels are up front rather than the usual motorcycle configuration with the two wheels in the back. This adds to the stability of the car and prevents roll overs. Since the Aptera is expected to hit speeds of around 85 mph, the designers have increased the safety features beyond motorcycle standards. The car is expected to sell for between $25,000 and $29,000 and is expected to go into production at the end of 2008.
The Aptera will initially only be offered for purchase in Southern California. The Think will probably have a wider distribution. Alas, the rest of the country and world will have to wait for future modifications to the Aptera before showrooms outside of Southern California offer it. The Think already has a proven reputation in Europe and like so many ex patriots, is returning to America with a proven track record it was not allowed to earn here.
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April 25th, 2008
You neglected to mention that the Think has a $150 to $300/mo battery rental fee, which the Aptera does not (the battery should last the life of the vehicle), nor that the Think goes from 0-60 in “quite a while”.
Also, not only are the Aptera’s safety features “beyond motorcycles”, they’re largely well beyond car standards. Double the roof crush strength, double the door crush strenght, 45″ frontal crumple/deflection zone, etc.
April 27th, 2008
Just to clarify, the Think city has just begun production in Norway in a facility some sixty kilometers outside of Oslo. The plant as a capacity of 10,000 vehicles annually. Initially all cars destined for the US - as well as sold in Europe — will come from this plant. However, Think is considering eventually producing the car in the US and California would seem a logical location. However, according to Vickie Northup, Think North America’s new operations manager, the company as not yet committed to building the car in the state.
April 29th, 2008
I’m all for the Aptera. The price is unbeatable. http://apteraforum.com