AutoblogGreen

Wheego's low-key route to success includes new electric SUV

Sebastian Blanco — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:22:00 EST

The trajectory of Wheego Electric Cars is light years away from the always-in-the-news Tesla Motors or the Congressional darlings Fisker Automotive. Despite the lack of attention, Wheego manages to keep on plugging away, adding new dealers and making it past regulatory hurdles. This low-key route is entirely by design.

Wheego CEO Mike McQuary recently told Plug In Cars that the key has been to not overestimate demand for the LiFe EV, a small two-seater from an unknown company. "We've always had a realistic expectation of what the market will be. We build a batch of cars and we sell them," he said. The biggest group of consumers has turned out to retirees, McQuary told PIC.

Building on its small but stable base, Wheego is planning expanding its line-up to include an electric SUV at some point in the next year. Like the LiFe, this new model will use a body made in China along with US components. The expected prices is $44,000 (before any government incentives). The LiFe starts at $32,995.

Wheego, which is based in Atlanta, has always been associated with China, since that's where its vehicle bodies come from. The company will soon have more formal ties there, McQuary said, because a new assembly line in China should be up and running within 12 months. Looks like the next year will be a busy one for quiet Wheego.

Wheego's low-key route to success includes new electric SUV originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wheego adds LiFe EV dealer in Florida

Jon LeSage — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 10:07:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, NEV (Neighborhood Electric Vehicle), Wheego

The change that the Nimnicht Family of Dealerships in Jacksonville, FL is applying to a former Hummer showroom could not be a better sign of the times. The showroom will become the newest dealership for Wheego Electric Cars, offering the full-speed Wheego LiFe and the low-speed Wheego Whip. The new dealership, Wheego of Jacksonville, will display the Wheego vehicles at the Jacksonville International Car & Truck Show on February 8-10, 2013.

Wheego National Sales Manager Ken Wambold said in a statement that converting the Hummer showroom is an "evolution to a green, eco-friendly product and a new technology will serve the Jacksonville market well. The Nimnicht name is highly respected in Florida, and rightfully so. The Nimnichts are the number one Chevy, Buick and GMC dealer in the greater Jacksonville area, and consistently receive top marks in customer satisfaction surveys."

In late January, Wheego added a Chicago auto dealer to its network. Green Wheels, LTD, a family-owned business started in the 1940s, will represent Wheego electric vehicles in the Chicago area.

There's no news yet on Wheego meeting Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards Regulations (FMVSSR). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had granted the automaker a temporary exemption from FMVSSR for an Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system until the end of 2012. Wheego is in the process of developing an ESC for its cars that complies with NHTSA's inspection.

Continue reading Wheego adds LiFe EV dealer in Florida

Wheego adds LiFe EV dealer in Florida originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 11 Feb 2013 10:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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After Think, BYD and Coda, Green Wheels ready to sell Wheego LiFe in Chicago

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 18:07:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Chicago Auto Show, Wheego

in 2012, Green Wheels, an eco-friendly car dealership in Chicago, sold "a ton" of Think City electric vehicles. Well, a ton for an underdog electric vehicle like the City, anyway, according to Green Wheels owner Doug Snower. The actual number was more like 50. Now, with the slow fade of Think - and the fact that Snower can't get any BYD e6 or Coda Sedans to sell - Green Wheels is gearing up to sell the Wheego LiFe alongside used hybrids and other used cars. The company has also sold 15 Mitsubishi i EV to the State of Illinois.

Green Wheels sells cars out of a remodeled abandoned gas station on Western Ave. in Chicago that opened up two years ago. Green Wheels signed up with Wheego in January but will not be selling the slow, neighborhood version of the LiFe, the Whip. The highway-speed LiFe MSRP is $32,995, with air conditioning being a $1,995 option. Thanks to a 30-kWh battery pack, the car qualifies for the full $7,500 federal tax credit. Given the other, cheaper pure EV options on the market, Snower told AutoblogGreen that, "we're going to have a little sit down with Wheego."

"We're going to have a little sit down with Wheego."

To name just one direct competitor, take the all-electric Smart ED, which starts at $25,000 (before incentives). The Wheego is a converted Shuanghuan Noble, and it is thus a little big bigger than the all-electric Smart ED. It also has a much larger battery pack (the Smart ED has a 17.6-kWh pack) and is unofficially rated at 90 miles on a charge, compared to the 68 miles for the Smart ED.

To go along with the EVs, Green Wheels also offers solar-powered charging stations and will soon focus on promoting charging units from French company DBT. DBT has installed thousands of charging stations across Europe, but is just now starting to sell them in the US. Green Wheels' solution adds in BYD solar panels for a truly emissions-free drive. Green Wheels also sells charging units from Coulomb, Schneider and Blink, and has already installed "dozens" of solar-powered stations.

But the main focus is the cars, and Snower was noticeably disappointed that, after all the brands he's tried to sell, Wheego is the only one left. He said he could easily sell Coda Sedans, but the troubled California automaker has pulled back to the west coast and the local Coda representative simply can't get Snower any vehicles to sell, Snower claimed.

After Think, BYD and Coda, Green Wheels ready to sell Wheego LiFe in Chicago originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 08 Feb 2013 18:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wheego ready with LiFe EV build plan, 100 due by end of 2012

Sebastian Blanco — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 12:02:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Santa Monica Alt Car Expo, Wheego

The biggest problem that Wheego was having the last time we looked in on the company was getting the Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to sign off on temporary exemption to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards Regulations (FMVSSR) for its two-seat, all-electric Wheego Whip LiFe car. NHTSA granted the small electric vehicle company a waiver for an Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system that is good until the end of the year. Wheego is in the process of developing an ESC for the little car. And with that, things are moving forward.

Wheego's Leslie Nolen told AutoblogGreen that around a dozen rolling chassis landed in Long Beach in the first shipment earlier this fall, and the plan was for Wheego to start building them into the LiFe EVs at its Ontario, CA location as soon as they made it through customs. This assembly process includes putting in the battery, battery management system and dash. The goal is to build 100 by the end of the year and Nolen said almost all of them are spoken for by dealers. Wheego has 30 dealers around the country.

There have been no major changes to the LiFe since the last time we took a look, but Nolen said the engineers have "tightened some stuff up" in the production process That includes things like having the appropriate wiring harness installed in China, where the chassis are built, rather than having the wrong one put in just so Wheego can take it out in the US.

Looking further down the road, Nolen said Wheego is working on R&D for a small, all-electric SUV. The plan is to show this off at the New York Auto Show in the spring of 2013 and have it available for sale by the end of that year.

Wheego ready with LiFe EV build plan, 100 due by end of 2012 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 08 Nov 2012 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Getting NHTSA to sign off is biggest hurdle Wheego faces for now

Jon LeSage — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Manufacturing/Plants, Wheego

As Wheego Electric Car has been experiencing, starting up a car manufacturing business is a very tough thing to do. Wheego is wending its way through acceptable compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards Regulations (FMVSSR) for its two-seat, all-electric Wheego Whip LiFe car. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had granted Wheego a temporary exemption to the rules to allow for sales of the car as minor problems are being addressed and safety standards met. Earlier this week, it was discovered Wheego has been granted a second exemption period to comply with FMVSSR, after the first waiver ran out on August 1. This new waiver allows the Whip LiFe to remain on the market until December 31, 2012.

The problem with the $32,995 electric car is that its Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system is not fitted to the car, although it is now meeting anti-lock braking system requirements. Wheego has to improve the airbags, too. Its simple airbags are considered compliant until February 11, 2013, when NHTSA would like to see advanced airbags put in place. Wheego is being allowed by NHTSA to build up to 1,000 Wheego Whip LiFe cars in its present condition.

Tesla Motors went through a similar process when rolling out the original Roadster electric sports car in limited-run production. Tesla was given temporary exemption under the same scheme, allowing it to sell the car without advanced two-stage airbags through December 31, 2011.

In the movie, "Revenge of the Electric Car," Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk was compared to Preston Tucker, who built a very cool car in the 1940s - the Tucker - and attempted to beat his major competitors in Detroit by making it as a startup automaker. Tucker went out of business after manufacturing only a small volume of the innovative Tucker models because he didn't have the cash flow to keep his company going.

Management at auto manufacturing companies will tell you that there are a few benchmarks that have to be passed for a new car to make it into someone's garage: funding is an obvious one, along with engineering and design. Then there's the regulations: passing crash tests and getting NHTSA to sign-off an extensive list of federal safety standards. Wheego Electric Car is climbing some very high walls right now and, at this point, getting NHTSA to sign off is the one that matters the most.

Getting NHTSA to sign off is biggest hurdle Wheego faces for now originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 17 Aug 2012 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wheego says it reaches equity deal with 'major' investor *UPDATE

Danny King — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 10:09:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, China, USA, Wheego

Yes, Wheego is still going.

The Atlanta-based company, which makes the two-seat LiFe electric vehicle, has reached an agreement for an equity infusion from a "major" investor and has sold about three-dozen of its Smart ForTwo-sized vehicles, Forbes reports, citing company chief Mike McQuary.

The company, ~~which builds its cars in China~~, has sold all but two of the 36 cars it's built since selling its first car last April. McQuary said the 27 worldwide dealers that have agreed to sell the vehicle are "clamoring" for the LiFe, which Wheego says has a 100-mile single-charge range and a top speed of 65 miles per hour. The Wheego LiFe is priced at $32,995.

Wheego, which has seven employees aside from McQuary, has stayed in business as other alt-fuel vehicle makers such as Aptera and Bright Automotive have folded because the company has stayed small and only builds cars when it receives cash, either for an equity investment or car sale. Last May, McQuary told Automotive News that the company was operating "hand-to-mouth" because of cash constraints.

McQuary, speaking at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2010, notably called out Tesla Motors chief Elon Musk for making unaffordable electric cars (That was an interesting speech, as he also said he thought Elon Musk was "the cologne I wore in college") and took General Motors to task for what he said was the company's efforts to play up electric vehicle range anxiety in its pitches for the Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in). He also called Nissan-Renault chief Carlos Ghosn "probably the smartest auto executive in the industry today."

*UPDATE: Jarrod Holland, who does PR for Wheego, contacted AutoblogGreen to let us know that Wheego's EV aren't technically made in China. That is indeed where the rolling chassis are made, but they are"then shipped to California for assembly where they are outfitted with parts and technology made in North America (73 percent North American content)."

Wheego says it reaches equity deal with 'major' investor *UPDATE originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 10:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hey look, a Wheego LiFe out in the wild

Eric Loveday — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:08:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Wheego

The Wheego LiFe has arrived at MC Electric Vehicles, a dealership in Seattle. The LiFe, an ultra-compact electric two-door that zips along at speeds of up to 65 miles per hour, could be considered a competitor to the Nissan Leaf, but we'd reckon it's not.

Yes, the LiFe has a Leaf-like range of 100 miles, a Leaf-ish price of $32,995 and, like all other electric vehicles, operates in near-silence. But its cargo-hauling ability, for obvious reasons, can't quite match the Leaf. Nor can the LiFe transport five in relative comfort. But, for some buyers, we'd reckon the LiFe's diminutive size makes it all-the-more appealing. And in Seattle, a city known for its mild, temperate marine climate, the LiFe's optional $1,995 air conditioning probably wouldn't even be required.

Speaking of Seattle, the local paper recently had a chance to test drive a LiFe and found it "an ideal car for trips around town." The car was peppy and easy to park. You can read the full review here.

Hey look, a Wheego LiFe out in the wild originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Will Tesla, Wheego and others lose airbag-related "hardship" exemption? *UPDATE

Eric Loveday — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Tesla Motors, Legislation and Policy, Wheego

2010 Tesla Roadster Sport - Click above for high-res image gallery

Tesla Motors, Lamborghini and a handful of other low-volume automakers may lose a "hardship" exemption that allows for the sale of vehicles with airbags that fail to comply with current U.S. safety standards. According to Automotive News (sub. req.), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) may stop handing out waivers that allow vehicles without advanced airbags to be sold in the U.S.

The NHTSA's response to requests by Lotus and Tesla to renew their airbag-related exemptions reads as follows:

NHTSA tentatively concludes that the expense of advanced airbag technology is not now sufficient, in and of itself, to justify the grant of a petition for a hardship exemption from the advanced airbag requirement.

Tesla asked for the exemption to cover the Roadster, which the company will stop making later this year. The Model S, which goes on sale in mid-2012, will apparently have airbags that meet NHTSA standards.

It's not just Tesla that's potentially in a bind. Wheego - maker of the two-seat electric LiFe - may lose its exemption too. Les Seagraves, Wheego's vice-president of product development, told AN that:

We had been working on this vehicle for about three years and in order to put the advanced airbags in the car, it would have cost us another million and a half dollars and another 18 months of development. We're a tiny startup company. That would have pretty much put us out of business.

However, Seagraves clarified this taken-out-of-context quote by telling us that:

As a developer of all electric cars, the airbag exemption was used for the exact purpose it was designed: it allowed us to bring an important, innovative electric vehicle to market in a more timely manner. Had we not been granted the original waiver, we would still be in design phase rather than delivering the LiFe to our reservation holders and dealers.

The NHTSA began requiring advanced airbags back in 2004. However, the Agency allowed exceptions for automakers that produce less than 10,000 vehicles a year. As we see it, safety is paramount and exemptions - especially ones that could result in an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash - have got to go.

*UPDATE: Les Seagraves, Wheego's vice-president of product development, contacted AutoblogGreen via email to clarify the automaker's airbag-related exemption. Seagraves wrote:

Most importantly, we are not in danger of losing our current airbag exemption. Our current exemption carries us through manufacturing all the LiFe vehicles we plan to make, and our future models will have the advanced airbags. NHTSA is apparently considering not extending some waivers beyond their current expiration date; however, we have no plans at this time to apply for an extension so that decision will not affect us.

We did not receive our exemption based on financial hardship; it was granted to us based on making the development of low-emission vehicles easier without unreasonably lowering the safety level of the vehicles.

Gallery: First Drive: Tesla Roadster Sport

Photos copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco / AOL

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Will Tesla, Wheego and others lose airbag-related "hardship" exemption? *UPDATE originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid test drives happening in Berlin next week

Eric Loveday — Mon, 09 May 2011 17:48:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Wheego

Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery

Revealed at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid is set to hit the streets of Berlin on May 18th as part the 11th Michelin Challenge Bibendum. The V60 plug-in won't actualy be launched until sometime in 2012, but from May 18-22, the vehicle will be available for its first official road tests.

The plug-in V60 offers a driver-selected choice of operating modes via three buttons located on the instrument panel: pure, hybrid and power. Volvo says that in pure mode, the vehicle operates only using its electric motor, if possible. In hybrid mode, both the diesel engine and electric motor interact to provide a balance between efficiency and performance. Finally, in power mode, the vehicle's technology is optimized for acceleration. The V60 plug-in features a 2.4-liter turbodiesel engine, a 70-horsepower electric motor and a 12-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Click here for more details on the V60 Plug-in Hybrid.

Photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Green Car Congress]

First Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid test drives happening in Berlin next week originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 09 May 2011 17:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wheego running low on cash; LiFe production may be stalled

Eric Loveday — Mon, 02 May 2011 18:54:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, USA, Wheego

First Wheego LiFe Delivery - Click above for high-res image

Back on Earth Day, Wheego delivered its first electric-only, $32,995 LiFe to Asma and Kevin Henry of Atlanta, GA. But, in order to continue manufacturing the highway-capable electric microcar, the Atlanta-based startup needs cash now, says Mike McQuary, chief executive officer of Wheego. McQuary told Automotive News (sub. req.) that:

My constraint is primarily capital. We'll be living hand-to-mouth as we try to get the first cars built. The next 200 will creep out as we raise money.

Wheego has enlisted the help of The Westbury Group, a venture capital firm located in Westport, CT, to raise $15 million in funds to buy parts needed to manufacture the LiFe. McQuary says that Wheego's previous capital-raising efforts were stymied because the LiFe had not yet received final approval from National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). That approval came in March.

Wheego's facility in Ontario, CA was supposed to crank out 200 LiFes per month in January, February and March of 2011 before ramping up to a rate that allows for the production of 60,000 vehicles a year. But, as McQuary told AN, "the question right now is how quickly we can raise money to buy parts."

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Wheego running low on cash; LiFe production may be stalled originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 02 May 2011 18:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In Germany, Daimler crushes a Wheego EV to defend intellectual property

Sebastian Blanco — Mon, 02 May 2011 12:53:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, China, Germany, Daimler, Wheego

Wheego Whip LiFe - Click above for high-res image gallery

We've known for years that the Wheego Whip (also used for the just-gone-on-sale Wheego LiFe) is, despite appearances, not a direct copy of the Smart Fortwo. Instead it is the electrified version of the Shuanghuan Bubble (aka the Shuanghuan Noble), which is a Chinese vehicle that is liberally based on the Fortwo. Daimler, as parent company of Smart, really doesn't like this and has, apparently, demanded that a just-imported Wheego vehicle (whether a Life or a Whip, we're not sure) be completely destroyed - using a forklift! - at the customs office in Bremerhaven, Germany.

Daimler and China Automobile Deutschland came to an agreement back in 2007 whereby CAD would not sell the Noble in Germany but that any gasoline versions could be driven on European roads. An all-electric conversion/Wheego, though, is a different story, according to Autobild, and Daimler had the car crushed to protect its intellectual property. A Wheego spokesperson tole Autobild that the car was privately imported by a customer, who's probably seriously regretting that decision today. Thanks to Tom S. for the tip!

[Source: Autobild]

In Germany, Daimler crushes a Wheego EV to defend intellectual property originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 02 May 2011 12:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wheego delivers first LiFe vehicle in time for Earth Day

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 18:55:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Wheego

First Wheego LiFe Delivery - Click above for high-res image

Earlier today, on Earth Day, Wheego finally delivered its first all-electric, highway-speed LiFe. The keys were handed over to Asma and Kevin Henry, who live in Atlanta, by Wheego dealer Jim Ellis. It's been a tough road thus far for the company, but the $32,995 ($25,495 after a $7,500 tax credit) car is finally here. Wheego CEO Mike McQuary told AutoblogGreen:

We started Wheego to help address the issues of climate change, spiking gas prices, and the need to end the U.S. dependency on foreign oil. These are very lofty ambitions. With a small and dedicated staff of employees and some of the world's best consultants and contractors we have taken the first step to meet these ambitions. The Wheego LiFe is a tribute to American ingenuity and entrepreneurship. It is a great car and we are confident that our Wheego drivers are going to be our greatest ambassadors in spreading the word about how a small car company start up can make a big contribution to society.

That's not nearly as interesting as how McQuary sounded in LA last fall, but that's all right. McQuary added:

The Walt Kelly poster for the very first Earth Day had Pogo proclaiming that "We have met the enemy and he is us." And now 31 years later we want to amend that sentiment by stating that "We have met the solution, and he is also us."

Wheego has dealers in 19 states (see the list here) so if you're interested in being (roughly) the second LiFe owner, give your local agent a call.

[Source: Wheego]

Continue reading Wheego delivers first LiFe vehicle in time for Earth Day

Wheego delivers first LiFe vehicle in time for Earth Day originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 18:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Wheego Whip LiFe to launch by end of March

Eric Loveday — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:33:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Wheego

Wheego Whip LiFe - Click above for high-res image gallery

Back in November, Wheego rolled out its Whip LiFe at the LA Auto Show. A month later, the electric automaker announced that its highway-capable LiFe received certification from the EPA and was approaching launch-ready status. In mid-January, Wheego president Jeff Boyd declared that shipments of the LiFe would commence before the end of the month, pending approval from the Department of Transportation.

Well, it's now February and not even one LiFe has been delivered to a retail customer. Automotive News reports that production of the first 500 Whip LiFes is finally underway and Wheego expects to have the pint-sized electric ready for retail sales on March 30th. Boyd claims the LiFe's status is "ready to go" and added that production numbers will slowly ramp as retail orders come in.

Boyd claims that 24 dealers have shown interest in selling the LiFe and the automaker's two additional models - a battery-powered pickup truck and a four-door electric crossover - which Wheego's president insists will debut by the end of the year. We shall see.

Gallery: DC 2010: Wheego Whip LiFe

Photos copyright (C)2011 Sebastian Blanco / AOL

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Report: Wheego Whip LiFe to launch by end of March originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Surprise! Wheego Whip LiFe arriving late

Eric Loveday — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Wheego

Wheego Whip LiFe - Click above for high-res image gallery

Wheego Electric Cars, a U.S.-based automaker, wheeled out its highway-capable electric car, the Whip LiFe, at the Los Angeles Auto Show back in November. In late December, Wheego announced that the LiFe, a $32,995 ($25,495 after a $7,500 tax credit) electric, received EPA certification and was inching closer to delivery, which the automaker had tentatively scheduled for the end of December.

December has come and gone and reservation holders have not taken delivery of the Wheego LiFe. Wheego president Jeff Boyd said that he now expects shipments to begin on January 21st, pending final approval from the Department of Transportation. The LiFe, according to Boyd, has received the okay from the California Air Resources Board (CARB), so we'd expect to see Wheego's electric roll out soon. Additionally, Boyd claims that Wheego has tallied more than 500 confirmed orders for the LiFE and has signed agreements with 32 dealers. Furthermore, Boyd revealed that "more (orders) are being added every day."

Gallery: DC 2010: Wheego Whip LiFe

Photos copyright (C)2010 Sebastian Blanco / AOL

[Source: All Cars Electric]

Surprise! Wheego Whip LiFe arriving late originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wheego Whip LiFe receives EPA certification

Eric Loveday — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Wheego

Wheego Whip LiFe - Click above for high-res image gallery

Wheego Electric Cars, a U.S.-based automaker, wheeled out its highway-capable electric car, the Whip LiFe, at the Los Angeles Auto Show back in November. With a price of $32,995 - or, only $25,495 after a $7,500 tax credit - the LiFe is a relatively cheap battery-powered ride and, now that it's EPA-certified, Wheego's electric is one step closer to landing in the driveways of reservation holders.

Yesterday, Wheego contacted reservation holders to pass along news that its diminutive electric has received the EPA's badge of approval. The automaker also released this brief statement detailing the LiFe's current status:

We're now awaiting final approval from National Highway Transportation Safety Administration to begin shipping cars to our reservation holders and dealers. We've passed the tests and submitted the paperwork - just waiting for the 'OK.'

Production of the Wheego LiFe has been underway for some time now and the automaker had hoped to deliver some of its electric hatches to dealers by month's end. However, with December nearly over, it now looks like deliveries will start in 2011.

Gallery: DC 2010: Wheego Whip LiFe

Photos copyright (C)2010 Sebastian Blanco / AOL

[Source: Green Car Advisor]

Wheego Whip LiFe receives EPA certification originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Green Overdrive tests the Wheego Whip LiFe; walks aways disappointed

Eric Loveday — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 13:06:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Wheego

Wheego Whip LiFe - Click above to watch video after the jump

When we drove the $32,995 ($25,495 after a $7,500 federal tax credit) Wheego LiFe at the LA Auto Show, we concluded that our brief seat time in the big brother of the so-called "Cadillac of Neighborhood Electric Vehicles" wasn't long enough "to give a full recommendation or review" but closed out with this remark:

Sometimes one spin around the block is all you need. This is going to be a tough sell, given the other plug-in vehicles available in the very near future.

Apparently, the crew over at Green Overdrive shares a similar sentiment. During their drive, they concluded that the Wheego LiFe fell short of expectations, stating that:

While the LiFe does drive on battery power, it just doesn't have the feel of a smooth, comfortable, mass-produced car. It's being sold for the same price as Nissan's Leaf, but is far inferior in quality.

Seems like the electric Wheego might be a tough sell when pitted against some of its worthy competitors. Hop the jump to watch Green Overdrive's Katie Fehrenbacher dish out a rather harsh review of the Wheego LiFe.

Gallery: LA 2010: Wheego LiFe

Continue reading Video: Green Overdrive tests the Wheego Whip LiFe; walks aways disappointed

Video: Green Overdrive tests the Wheego Whip LiFe; walks aways disappointed originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 13:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA 2010: driving the Wheego Whip LiFe, the electric car from an aggressive little company

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 19:54:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, LA Auto Show, Wheego

Wheego Whip - Click above for high-res image gallery

Where do you go when you're starting with "The Cadillac of Neighborhood Electric Vehicles"? If you're Wheego Electric Cars, a U.S. EV manufacturer that uses bodies built by China's Shuanghuan Automobile that look suspiciously like a Fortwo but are totally not-a-Smart, then the answer is to get aggressively into the full-speed electric vehicle game. That's just what happened at the Los Angeles Auto Show when CEO Mike McQuary took to the floor of the Wheego booth and lashed out against Nissan, Coda and many other electric car players. The message: you're all doing it wrong.

Los Angeles is the perfect place to launch the 70 mile per hour top speed, 100-mile range LiFe car, McQuary said, not only because zero tailpipe emissions can help reduce air pollution, but because:

In Los Angeles, perhaps more than any other city in America, you are what you drive. People's identities are wrapped up in the cars that they drive. If you go upstairs in some of the larger booths, I think the message is clear: buy a luxury sports car and you, too, can be rich. You can be famous, you can be a celebrity. You can have a beautiful wife. You can have a sexy girlfriend. Heck, if you get the right sports car, you can have a beautiful wife and a sexy girlfriend. But what we're going to tell you in our booth is that that's not the Wheego message. The Wheego message is a bit of a challenge to that thinking. To paraphrase John F. Kennedy, ask not what your car can do for you, but ask what your car can do for your country.

That all sounds good, but McQuary followed it up by getting mean, as you can read after the jump.

Gallery: LA 2010: Wheego LiFe

Continue reading LA 2010: driving the Wheego Whip LiFe, the electric car from an aggressive little company

LA 2010: driving the Wheego Whip LiFe, the electric car from an aggressive little company originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 19:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA Auto Show preview: Wheego Whip LiFe electric car to hit the stage

Eric Loveday — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, LA Auto Show, Green Daily, Wheego

Wheego Whip LiFe - Click above for high-res image gallery

Wheego Electric Cars, a U.S. manufacturer that's often overshadowed by the likes of Nissan, Chevrolet and others, will roll out its highway-capable electric car, the Wheego Whip LiFe, at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 18th. Wheego calls the LiFe "the nation's first affordable electric car" and for good reason. You see, the LiFe is priced at $32,995 - or, $25,495 after the feds throw in a $7,500 tax credit - which is nearly as cheap as the Leaf, but the LiFe should beat Nissan's battery-powered vehicle to market by at least a month. Provided that no further delays crop up.

Production of the Wheego LiFe is underway and some of the highway-capable EVs will be delivered to dealers by month's end. LiFe reservation holders are eagerly awaiting delivery, which is scheduled to start before the vehicle's on stage debut in LA. Hit the jump for more on the Wheego LiFe; a highway-capable EV from a U.S. manufacturer (made from 75 percent U.S. content - details here) that's ready to challenge some of the big boys in the automotive market.

Gallery: DC 2010: Wheego Whip LiFe

Photos copyright (C)2010 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Wheego]

Continue reading LA Auto Show preview: Wheego Whip LiFe electric car to hit the stage

LA Auto Show preview: Wheego Whip LiFe electric car to hit the stage originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wheego now accepting pre-orders for $32,995 LiFe electric car *UPDATE

Sebastian Blanco — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:20:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Wheego

Wheego Whip LiFe - Click above for high-res image gallery

Well, it isn't going to be available in August as hoped, but the $32,995 (before incentives) Wheego Whip LiFe has been re-scheduled for delivery in September and Wheego Electric Cars is now accepting $100 refundable reservations here. Wheego CEO Mike McQuary was quick to point out in a statement that his car will beat both the Nissan Leaf and the Chevrolet Volt to market:

We are on schedule to be the first company to offer an affordable all-electric car in the U.S. Other auto companies have made announcements of the upcoming availability of their electric cars, but for the most part, their cars are being released in only a few cities, and in limited quantities. Our Wheego Whip LiFe will ship to customers first-come, first-served across the U.S. beginning in September, and everyone who makes a reservation will be driving their car before the end of the year. The Whip LiFe has a lithium battery pack, is made of 75% U.S. content, and is assembled in Ontario, California. It is an example of American ingenuity at its finest.

That last sentence requires some unpacking, since the LiFe is without question a modified Shuanghuan Noble, which is built in China. Wheego is quoting a 100-mile range and a 65 mile per hour to speed for the LiFe from a 28 kWh lithium (Li) iron (Fe) phosphate battery pack. It's unlikely to get those two numbers to play nice together. If you don't live in an area where the Leaf will be available right away, does this car appeal to you?

*UPDATE: Wheego has updated the battery to a 30 kWh pack that uses 36 (3.2V) cells at 260AH. Wheego also wanted to respond to the China comment with:

When the chassis comes to us from China, it's just a sled that we reinforced for safety to pass crash-testing- then in our US assembly plant we add the transmission, motor, batteries, wiring, and controller (which are all US-made), as well as all the software that ties the components together.

Gallery: DC 2010: Wheego Whip LiFe

[Source: Wheego]

Continue reading Wheego now accepting pre-orders for $32,995 LiFe electric car *UPDATE

Wheego now accepting pre-orders for $32,995 LiFe electric car *UPDATE originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wheego Whip LiFe EV could beat Leaf, Volt, others to market

Eric Loveday — Sat, 08 May 2010 08:37:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Manufacturing/Plants, Green Daily, Lightweight, Wheego

Wheego Whip LiFe - Click above for high-res image gallery

As of right now, we know that the Nissan Leaf will make its debut this fall joining the Tesla Roadster as the only publicly available highway-capable battery-electric cars in the the land, a point that Nissan is clearly proud of. But, if things play out just right and all of the pieces fall into place, Atlanta-based Wheego could beat Nissan to the punch and deliver an electric vehicle (EV) by August. We'll admit that a lot has to happen to make this a reality, but we're wondering if Nissan is at least losing a few microseconds of sleep over it.

The car in question is the Wheego Whip LiFe, a highway-capable EV with a target price of $33,500. Here's the problem though, Wheego is short on cash (imagine that) and needs to sell equity to come up with $5 million soon. The funds will hopefully go towards getting the Whip Life through crash testing (if it can pass) and what's left over will go into producing the first 200 cars which could roll of the line as early as August. As Wheego chief executive officer Mike McQuary told BNET, "We were a risky proposition three years ago, but now we're on the home stretch." The company may be closing in on its goals, but there's still a lot of "ifs" and "buts" to overcome. In the meantime, the Nissan Leaf is ready to go.

Gallery: DC 2010: Wheego Whip LiFe

Photos by Sebastian Blanco / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: BNET]

Wheego Whip LiFe EV could beat Leaf, Volt, others to market originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 08 May 2010 08:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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