Pioneering Scandinavian EV maker,
THINK, entered the world of motor sport at the weekend with the
THINK City ‘EV Cup Edition’ taking part in the START Eco Car Trials
– the world’s first electric vehicle race.
The THINK City has been converted into
a race-ready model by the EV Cup team of specialists in London, who
have removed nearly 70kg of weight from the vehicle, achieved by
stripping out the interior to leave one single lightweight racing
seat and steering wheel, and replacing all glass with heat resistant
and shatterproof Perspex.
A revised suspension system to
lower the centre of gravity for the already well-planted car and
further improving handling complete the conversion.
These racing upgrades coupled with
a software update of THINK’s patented EV drive control technology
result in a very exciting performance from the race-ready EV Cup
Edition.
Channel 4 TV presenter and
environmentally-conscious architect Kevin McCloud, and racing
enthusiast and founder of the British fashion brand, Mulberry –
Roger Saul, tested the THINK City Racer for the first time at the
weekend, at Kilver Court Viaduct in Somerset, previously home to the
Mulberry headquarters.
The THINK City made a real
impression with both eco racers. “The THINK City can overtake very
competently despite its relative tiny power and that makes you feel
very comfortable at the wheel,” said Kevin McCloud, “it is an
excellent racing vehicle and on the short runs we were doing today
it just doesn’t seem to run out of power – thanks to its linear
torque – which actually makes it better than its equivalent petrol
city car for short races.”
The THINK City was also a hit with
Roger Saul, he said “the THINK City is the most advanced electric
car in the world and is an excellent illustration of the START
ethos, which is to bring sustainability to the fore in a fun way
without ranting.”
Further pushing the boundaries of
what is achievable in an electric car, the THINK City is also
currently featuring in a new BBC documentary – Electric Ride
– currently being broadcast around the world and following an
intrepid BBC team as they drive their way 4,000 miles around a dozen
European countries in an electric vehicle.
The latest generation THINK City is
a purpose-built, all-electric car designed for urban environments.
It can travel at highway speeds and cover 160 kilometers on a single
charge (via conventional household outlet), with zero local
emissions. It is the world’s first EV to be granted certification
with the European CE conformity mark and EU homologation
requirements (M1 certificate). To achieve these exacting standards,
the THINK City has successfully completed very thorough testing and
validation procedures.
