THINK pilot test-drive programme case studies

THINK’s pilot test-drive programmes across Europe are endorsed by central and national government authorities, who are striving to achieve the electrification of transport in their major cities. Countries piloting THINK’s test fleet incude:

Sweden

In Sweden, the EV project, Shopping Circle, was established to map out the future EV use and charging patterns of EV users in Copenhagen and Gjavle, where over 80% of vehicle journeys are completed with just one occupant.

Local families were invited to apply to become test pilot EV drivers for one year of research, and over 500 put their names forward.

Twenty families were finally selected to take the extended test-loan of the THINK City, where all of their EV journeys and charges will be recorded to gather valuable first user experiences and local impacts of EV usage – here are some of the families’ comments so far:

Hillbom-Johansson family – The THINK City is amazingly quiet and fun to drive. I think I am falling in love with this little car! Anna (wife). Strom family – I use my THINK City every day to work, and love the fact that my big car is in the garage at home. Ann-Charlotte (wife) I was surprised at how spacious the car is for occupants, and I use it weekly for shopping trips and shuttling the children to their evening activities. Peter (husband)

Gjavle Energy Vice-President, Per Laurell, (also a very satisfied THINK driver) said: "We kicked off this project last month outside the Valbo shopping centre, where we have introduced charging stations in the shopping centre car park, with another nine now in operation around the region. How such charging is paid for though is a matter we will try to resolve with the local utility company during the course of this project.

He added: Local energy companies and authorities are all extremely supportive of this project and we are, as a region, extremely proud to be at the forefront of EV adoption here in Gjavle."

Austria

The Austrian government is about to start its second phase of pilot-testing EVs, on the back of the success of the first round. The Austrian Federal Climate and Energy Fund has just reported feedback to THINK from the first round of testing in the country through the government supported Vlotte EV Project. This project saw vehicles tested in the Bregenz region from February this year to help demonstrate the full capacity of EV functionality in urban areas and also to gauge the potential future impact of widespread EV adoption on the region’s electric grid.

Gerhard Gunther, project leader in VKV said: "First reports from Bregenz following testing of the THINK City that has been taking place since February this year are extremely positive"Dr. Eveline Steinberger, Managing Director of the Austrian Federal Climate and Energy Fund said: "This experience is enabling us to start planning the second step of the project. Which region will get the chance to embark into this test programme remains to be decided."

The Netherlands

ElmoNet, a subsidiary of Mobility Service Netherlands, has been operating a pilot-test programme in Holland since March this year, and is working closely with the Dutch government, which has called for a quick introduction of EVs and recently announced a fund of 10 million euros to be made available to help facilitate this in the Netherlands’ major towns and cities.

Patrick Doornbos said: We have travelled extensively in Holland with the THINK City to demonstrate and promote the vehicle to key decision makers and influencers in the country’s regions. The Mayor of Amsterdam is driving a city right now, and many other of the city’s dignitaries and government officials have had the chance to test the vehicle. He added: We have also demonstrated the THINK’s high performance to an audience at the RDW test-circuit, which included Minister Camiel Eurlings – who recently handed Think the first ever pan-european homologation certificate for EVs. The vehicle was also shown to senior members of the European Climate Group in Holland, including Mr. Tony Blair (former British prime minister) - all of whom seem suitably impressed with the THINK’s unrivalled quality and robustness compared to other EVs on the market.