Think launches City van

Norwegian electric vehicle maker Think has added a new model to its range.

The City N van, which is based on the existing City car, has European type approval, a 237 kg load capacity and 700 litres of cargo space. It will be joined by the larger 900 litre capacity Compact van later this year, with the possibility of more variants to follow.

Short, urban journeys are likely to be all that the City N van is suited to, thanks to a 100 mile (160 km) range and an eight hour recharge time for its lithium-ion battery system. Its load lugging ability won’t be able to compete with establish petrol- or diesel-powered small vans, either. The Ford Fiesta Van, for example, can transport a payload of 507 kg.

However, for niche operations where there’s no need to travel great distances, the Think’s low running costs could prove advantageous.

One underlying issue that Think needs to sort out is its distribution network, as currently its vehicles are only available in the United States, Austria, the Netherlands and Norway. Progress on this is promised during 2011.