THINK G4 is the fourth generation proprietary technology underpinning the pioneering THINK City electric car with lithium ion batteries. The drive controller is the power electronics system that integrates the electric vehicle battery powering the THINK City and the motor that drives it.
Housing the charger, DC-DC converter, inverter and vehicle control module, the fourth generation drive controller is the heart of THINK technology. Due to the company’s unrivalled experience and scale in the electric vehicles sector, with nearly two decades of development and over 30 million miles of real customer experience behind it, the new THINK G4 power electronics system is a long way ahead of most industry competitors.
This latest generation drive controller offers a number of benefits, such as enhanced technical safety, improved real world vehicle range, efficiency gains, manufacturing cost reduction and improved functionality and flexibility within the advanced electronic drive-train system.
These benefits come from the THINK G4’s key technical advances, such as the system’s integrated design, scalability, modular construction, flexible open interface, agnostic capabilities and unique cooling attributes.
The G4 EV Drive Controller brings a whole new business stream to THINK as a company. Thanks to this industry-leading technological advance by THINK engineers, in partnership with award-winning lithium-ion battery partner EnerDel (NASDAQ:HEV), THINK G4 is an important new intellectual property of strategic business interest to companies across numerous sectors.
THINK is already in discussions with vehicle manufacturers wishing to tap into the company’s vast EV experience, leadership and expertise by buying the THINK G4 system. In addition, businesses that run large fleets of vehicles are interested in THINK G4 – coupled with the EnerDel battery – to convert their vehicles to electric drive, with companies in power supply, mail delivery and carbon reduction projects among the system’s first customers.
THINK CEO, Richard Canny, said: “The introduction of THINK G4 is yet another large step in the development of our company. We are already making great progress around the world with the roll-out of the THINK City EV into key markets; now we are turning to the upstream side of the industry by offering our leading fourth generation EV drive-train solution in the business to business sector.”
He added: “THINK G4 offers efficiency, cost and durability gains never seen before in this industry. Thanks to the technology’s flexibility, a range of batteries and motors can be used to power the system, an unlimited array of body styles become a reality, and entirely customized solutions are made available for the first time.”
Companies already deploying THINK’s EV drive technology include the Japan Postal Service in Tokyo, the Tsukuba Project in partnership with Itochu and Mazda corporations in Japan and CPFL Energia – the Rio de Janeiro based energy supplier in Brazil. Many other projects are about to get underway now that THINK G4 is in production.
The latest generation THINK City, complete with G4 EV Drive Controller, is in production at Valmet Automotive in Finland, which also assembles the Boxster and Cayman models for Porsche AG. Customer deliveries are taking place across Europe in selected key EV markets such as The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Austria and Switzerland.
THINK has also 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 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 is 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.
