One of the key stumbling blocks in the uptake of battery electric vehicles is charging times. After all, who wants to wait eight hours to “fill the tank” when a gasoline, hybrid or hydrogen powered vehicle can be replenished in a matter of minutes. One of the projects seeking to address the issue is a collaboration between electric vehicle manufacturer THINK and charging infrastructure developer AeroVironment (a company best known to Gizmag readers as a manufacturer of UAVs). The companies are collaborating on a fast charging project for the THINK City electric vehicle with the goal of taking the EV from zero charge to 80 percent full in just 15 minutes.

THINK announced the partnership with AV at the Washington Auto Show. As part of its U.S. assault, the company will also use batteries from the Indiana-based lithium ion battery manufacturer EnerDel and has unveiled plans for a North American manufacturing facility in Elkhart, Indiana, which will go online in 2011.
Related Articles:safety car,car concept