Think about this

NORWEGIAN car-maker Think Global has unveiled the production version of its City electric car designed for European markets, and is working to engineer a right-hand drive version for Britain and other RHD destinations.

Previously owned by Ford but now controlled by a Norwegian investment firm, Think Global said last week that the company was due to begin sales of the plug-in City micro in the first half of next year, ramping up annual production to between 7000 and 10,000 units at its Aurskog plant in Norway by 2009.

Think is working with Porsche to improve its manufacturing operations, and has contracted Magna Steyr to help develop a RHD version of the City. The company is using a number of big-name suppliers such as Continental, Autoliv and Robert Bosch, while its batteries are coming from US electric-car marque Tesla Motors.

Seating two and offering two additional rear seats for children, the three-door City is fully battery powered and manages 0-80km/h in a sluggish 16.0 seconds.

It has a top speed of 100km/h. The all-important driving range is claimed to be between 90km and 180km. Recharging takes up to 10 hours.