The polyether-bridged 2,2'-bithiophenes were designed with a single methylene between the thiophene ring and the first oxygen atom in polyether, and synthesized by the Williamson reaction and the Suzuki coupling reaction. The electrochemical polymerization of as-synthesized monomers were investigated. The as-prepared polymers of polyether-bridged 2,2'-bithiophenes (P(BT-E-BT)) show a better electrochemical activity with a high-quality film on electrodes compared to the polymers of polyether-bridged thiophenes (T-E-T) in a neutral media. The P(BT-E-BT) exhibited broad absorption in near infrared region with the band gaps (2.03-2.05 eV) and the good thermal stability. The versatile coloration change for P(BT-E-BT) films on a ITO glass electrode were achieved from salmon pink (neutral state) to blue-green and transmissive rusty red (oxidized states). Further electrochromic investigation implied that the polymer P(BT-E-BT) films showed moderate to high contrast ratios, good coloration efficiencies, low switching voltages, fast response times, excellent stabilities and colour persistence as potential electrochromic materials. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.