Think City

Asking 10,000 people what car they drive and who they like for president yields some interesting results. Did you know Toyota Prius owners like Ted Cruz?

For companies in the lithium battery business, multi-segment marketing has become a necessity. A few years ago, electric vehicles looked like the next smartphone-like growth area for battery makers. Now, it's more turmoil than profits for some battery makers.

"So about those free cars you donated to us..."

If you were smitten by the little electric Think City and thought the company's recent bankruptcy put the kibosh on your chances of ever owning one of the plastic-paneled car, then *ahem, think again. It seems there are still some of the city runabouts to be had if you look in the right place.

Ener1, a maker of lithium-ion batteries for electric-drive vehicles and a major investor in now-bankrupt electric-vehicle maker Think, has gone bankrupt itself.

Looks like things that were bad with Ener1 (and the Think City electric car) are about to go to worse. After a string of bad news (see here, here, Sebastian Blanco

Ener1, a pioneer of lithium-ion batteries for plug-in vehicles, has warned that it might not have sufficient funds to remain operational as a result of losses from its investment in Think Global, a Norwegian automaker that declared bankruptcy in late June.

2011 Think City - Click above for high-res image gallery

Bankruptcy Brings This EV's Range To Zero

Bankruptcy Brings This EV's Range To Zero

When Ener1 abruptly ended its four-year-long deal with Think Global, saying that its investment was "impaired," we had reason to worry. Now comes word that the struggles continue to mount at Think Global and that the automaker has filed for bankruptcy. Again.

When Ener1 abruptly ended its four-year-long deal with Think Global, saying that its investment was "impaired," we had reason to worry. Now comes word that the struggles continue to mount at Think Global and that the automaker has filed for bankruptcy. Again.

Are you ready for Think's so-called "significant announcement?" Ready or not, here it is:

Later today, the Obama administration is expected to announce that it will purchase 116 plug-in vehicles and will install charging stations in government buildings in five cities.