CPFL Energia has purchased three THINK City electric cars with lithium ion batteries, which it intends to showcase at the high profile Michelin Challenge Bibendum sustainable mobility conference, hosted in Rio de Janeiro at the end of this month, and attended by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Richard Canny, THINK CEO, said: “The timing couldn’t be better, with our first cars into South America arriving this week and the high level Michelin Challenge Bibendum conference getting underway – positioning THINK very well as one of the first EV makers to make its mark in South America, just like we have in Europe. Also, we have a very good collaborator in CPFL, as one of the leading electricity suppliers in the country. It is also the most forward thinking environmentally, with plans already taking shape to electrify part of CPFL’s very sizeable fleet of vehicles.”
Wilson Pinto Ferreira Junior, CPFL Energia CEO, added: “Sustainable mobility is fast working its way up the political and environmental agendas here in Brazil, and CPFL wants to be at the forefront of this movement. We are showing some of our plans for electrifying the CPFL vehicle fleet at the Michelin Challenge Bibendum, which, in its special 10th anniversary year and under the leadership of our President, will clearly emphasise the determination of this country to strive for a more sustainable mobility in future. We are very pleased that THINK is supporting us in our aim to achieve this goal, both at CPFL and hopefully in Brazil as a whole.”
CPFL Energia S.A., with revenues of US$ 6.0 Billion in 2009, engages in the generation, distribution, and commercialization of energy through its many subsidiaries in the Brazilian electricity sector, both in free and regulated markets. As of December 31, 2009, the company had installed generation capacity of 1,737 megawatts; and distributed electricity to approximately 6.6 million consumers. It serves residential, industrial, and commercial customers.
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 any 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.
European production of the THINK City is underway in Finland with manufacturing partner Valmet Automotive, which also assembles the Boxster and Cayman models for Porsche AG. First customer deliveries are taking place across Europe in selected key EV markets such as The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Austria and Switzerland.
THINK also recently announced plans to establish a U.S. production facility during 2011 in Elkhart County, Indiana, and is working with Japanese partner Itochu on developing operations in Asia.
THINK is a pioneer in electric vehicles and a leader in electric vehicle technology, developed and proven over 19 years. It is one of the few companies that has a ‘ready-to-market’ fully electric vehicle – the THINK City. With its market-leading range, driveability and recyclability, the THINK City is the first vehicle of its type to be granted pan-European regulatory safety approval and CE certification.
THINK is also a leader in electric drive-system technology, and was the first to offer a modular and flexible EV drive-train solution in the business-to-business sector. With its Scandinavian origins and sustainability mindset, THINK is one of the most carbon efficient car companies in the world.
CPFL Energia S.A., through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, distribution, and commercialization of electric energy in Brazil. It also provides electricity-related services. As of December 31, 2009, the company distributed electricity to approximately 6.6 million customers and had an installed capacity of approximately 1,737 megawatts. It serves principally food and beverage, metal, textile, and chemical industries; residential customers; service-oriented businesses, universities, and hospitals; rural customers; and public and municipal services customers. The company was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
