Ford launched its TH!NK neighbor four-seat personal-mobility low-speed vehicle in July at the Ford Senior Players Championship. The battery-electric vehicle comes in two- and four-passenger models and is designed for use in planned communities, resorts, work environments, and on public roads at low speeds.
The neighbor is constructed of an extruded aluminum spaceframe with thermoplastic body panels easily molded in a variety of colors. The car's interior is weather-resistant and designed for function and onboard stowage. Overall length of the vehicle is 2330 and 2570 mm (91.6 and 101.3 in) for the two- and four-passenger models, with width and height of 1360 and 1720 mm (53.6 and 67.7 in), respectively. Curb weight with batteries ranges from 445 to 580 kg (980 to 1280 lb) for the two- and four-passenger models.
Six lead/acid batteries with 72-V total power drive the vehicle's 5-kW dc motor, which produces 88 Nom (65 lboft) peak torque at 1500 rpm. Range is about 48 km (30 mi), with 4-8 h recharging from a standard 110-V system. Regenerative braking provides onboard charging to the batteries during stop-and-go driving. There is a two-speed selector with the "high" speed setting limiting the vehicle to 40 km/h (25 mph) and the "low" speed setting to 24 km/h (15 mph). The neighbor meets new U.S. government FMVSS 500 requirements for low-speed vehicles and has safety features including three-point restraints at all seating positions, AS-1 glazed safety glass windshield, and 5-km/h (3-mph) bumpers.
Customers can order the neighbor online at www.thinkmobility.com directly from the factory. In addition to the neighbor, Ford's TH!NK Mobility portfolio of zero-emission vehicles includes the electric bike fun (standard frame) and bike traveler (folding frame) and the two-seat city battery-electric car produced in Norway. The TH!NK Group is comprised of TH!NK Mobility (battery-electric vehicles) and TH!NK Technologies (fuel-cell vehicles).
Kevin Jost
AEI September 2000
