Think launches production in Indiana

WHO: Governor Mitch Daniels
Barry Engle, THINK Chief Executive Officer
Robert Wynkoop, Commissioner, Indiana Department of Administration
Robert Carter, Director, Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Paul Mitchell, President and CEO, Energy Systems Network

WHAT: THINK, the world’s leading dedicated electric vehicle manufacturer, is delivering its first 15 U.S.-built electric cars to the Indiana Department of Administration for use in state fleet operations, including by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources at state parks. The electric vehicles deployment is being facilitated by Energy Systems Network’s “Project Plug-IN” initiative, which is a public-private partnership focused on making Indiana a leader in the manufacturing and use of plug-in vehicles and smart-grid technology.

WHERE: Fort Harrison State Park Inn
Fort Harrison State Park
5830 N. Post Road
Indianapolis, IN 46216

WHEN: Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 9:15 a.m.

WHY: THINK is delivering 15 THINK City electric cars to the State of Indiana. The cars are being shipped from THINK’s production facility in Elkhart. They will be the first U.S.- built electric passenger vehicles with American-made lithium-ion batteries put into operation in a state fleet. Project Plug-IN partners will collect extensive data from the vehicles to better understand the environmental and energy-efficiency benefits of using electric vehicles in fleet operations and to evaluate their impact on the electric grid system. The THINK City is a zero-emission car of Scandinavian design intended for fleet applications and urban commuters. It has a range of 100 miles on its advanced Li-ion battery manufactured in Indianapolis by Ener1, Inc.

THINK employs more than 25 local workers in Elkhart. By the end of 2011, THINK will have more than 100 people in Elkhart building electric cars and more than 415 by the end of 2013.

THINK is the world’s leading dedicated electric vehicle manufacturer, developed and proven over 20 years. This heritage gives THINK a head start with nearly 10,000 electric vehicles on the road and more than 35 million miles (56 million kilometers) of customer experience. The THINK City, the first EV to be granted pan–European regulatory safety approval, is sold across Europe, with sales and production in the US and operations being developed in Asia.

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.

www.thinkev.com