Ford Archives Rides Back in Time With Rare E-Bike Donation

A recent Ford collaboration to create e-bikes modeled after production icons such as the Ford Mustang and Ford Bronco is reminiscent of another company initiative circa 2000. Ford, through its subsidiary Th!nk Mobility, debuted the Fun and Traveler e-bike models at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit that year, and the Ford Archives recently took one into their possession.

Ford’s Th!nk Group, through its early e-commerce platform, was dedicated to creating environmentally responsible personal mobility options, including the Th!nk City two-seat electric vehicle and the Th!nk Neighbor, a battery-powered personal mobility vehicle. Though they probably wouldn’t fit inside either vehicle, the e-bikes had a foldable frame. While riding, a simple flip of the wrist activated the bikes’ 250- or 400-watt motors to assist in powering the ride. Their top speed was about 15 mph, while their range varied from 31 miles for the Th!nk bike Fun model to roughly 18 miles for the Traveler model. 

Recycling the past 

A Fun e-bike model was recently donated by Sean Seccombe, a Ford employee who works as a test technician in Vehicle Evaluation and Verification. He delivered the bike to the Archives’ location in the Ford Engineering Lab earlier this month. 

“It shows that taking smart chances on future possibilities isn’t a new concept for Ford – it’s part of our DNA, connecting efforts like Th!nk to the innovations we pursue today,” said Ford Heritage and Brand manager Ted Ryan. 

Seccombe, a third-generation Ford employee and Dearborn native, actually had three of the bikes. He had purchased them about four years ago from a former coworker at the Dyno Lab who had originally acquired them at an estate sale. Some internet searching for troubleshooting the bikes led Seccombe to a forum post that said that the Ford Archives team was looking to add one of the bikes to their collection. Seccombe said he still hopes to repair the remaining two Th!nk bikes, which he said are very similar to modern e-bikes but lack self-starting propulsion.

Seccombe also said he’s proud as an employee to see that Ford has never been afraid to venture outside of traditional auto manufacturing.  

“It’s just cool that we dive into different areas and technologies,” he said. “We do trucks and other vehicles very well, but to stay alive, you do have to venture out into other areas.” 

Fuel for thought  

Th!nk was also responsible for developing Ford’s fuel cell vehicle of that era, the Th!nk FC5, which was based on a 2000 Ford Focus. The car was powered by a methanol reformer fuel cell, a technology Ford was pursuing as an alternative to the internal combustion engine. 

The 2000 North American International Auto Show was also the site of the Th!nk bike Concept One, a design exercise meant to explore new ideas in bicycle design, construction, and materials, including lightweight metal alloys. 

Innovative spirit  

In addition to online sales, the production model Th!nk e-bikes were available at retailers, including some Ford Dealers. While Ford sold Th!nk to an electric vehicle maker in early 2003, the company’s foray into e-bikes 25 years ago is another example of how it has been on the forefront of new technologies and innovations, even if they aren’t directly related to automobiles. 

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