AutoblogGreen

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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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

Photos copyright (C)2010 Sebastian Blanco / AOL

[Source: GigaOM]

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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

DC 2010: Wheego unveils high-speed Whip, looks a lot like the LSV

Sebastian Blanco — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:43:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Green Daily, Washington DC Auto Show, Wheego

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

The one vehicle unveiled at the Washington Auto Show today was the Wheego Whip LiFe, an upgraded version of the company's neighborhood electric car that we took for a quick spin last fall. The high-speed LiFe - a clever name based on the car's 28 kWh lithium (Li) iron (Fe) phosphate battery pack - will come to market later this year at a very affordable price of under $35,000, and that's before any tax incentives, according to Wheego's vice president of marketing, Les Seagraves. Wheego has a 30-dealer network in the U.S., and the Wheego LiFe will be available there sometime this summer. The car has a top speed of 65 mph and a range of 100 miles. You can see the Whip's full spec sheet here.

Wheego is currently undergoing crash testing the lithium model, a project that required fundraising in the realm of $2.5 million (the money was also used for other thing). Virtual testing has been underway since October and has led to a few changes in the battery pack shape andvehicle structure. Two Whip LiFes will be built to be sent into the crash chamber, and two others will be made for the company to show off (the first was the vehicle displayed today).Speaking of this particular body style, regular readers will remember that the Whip is a modified Shuanghuan Noble. Seagraves said that the Wheego team in Atlanta has made "over 100" changes to the body and chassis and therefore "it's ours now."

Wheego's low-speed vehicle (LSV) Whip went on sale in October, and Seagraves said that around 200 units have been sold thus far. That car costs around $19,000, and you can learn more about it here. Further down the line, Wheego is looking at a full-speed four-seater, possibly some time in 2011.

Gallery: DC 2010: Wheego Whip LiFe

Photos copyright (C)2010 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.
Our travel and lodging for this media event were provided by the Auto Alliance.

DC 2010: Wheego unveils high-speed Whip, looks a lot like the LSV originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

AltCar 2009: Wheego Whip Quick Drive - is this the Cadillac of NEVs?

Sebastian Blanco — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Santa Monica Alt Car Expo, NEV (Neighborhood Electric Vehicle), Wheego

Wheego Whip - click above for high-res image gallery

Is the Wheego Whip "The Cadillac of Neighborhood Electric Vehicles"? That's one description that we heard during our very short test drive of the NEV during the Santa Monica Alt Car Expo last weekend. Marc Korchin, owner of the Green Motors electric vehicles dealership in Berkeley, rode with us around the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in the Wheego and explained why this car is, in many ways, the best he's ever sold.

Having driven the Tesla Roadster and the Dodge Circuit, we know what pure EVs are capable of. But this car costs about a sixth of what the Roadster costs - and the Circuit is just a prototype today - so we had to make sure to evaluate the Whip on its own NEV merits. Is the Wheego worth it? Find out after the jump.

Gallery: AltCar 2009: Wheego Whip

Continue reading AltCar 2009: Wheego Whip Quick Drive - is this the Cadillac of NEVs?

AltCar 2009: Wheego Whip Quick Drive - is this the Cadillac of NEVs? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Wheego to introduce electric Lambretta GP200e scooter?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, On Two Wheels, Wheego

Based on an advertisement in the latest issue of Scoot! Magazine (via our friends at 2 Stroke Buzz), Wheego is currently working on a new electric scooter that looks to be built atop a vintage-style Lambretta platform. Beyond that, details are decidedly scarce. It's possible that Wheego is working with Scooters India Limited - a company that acquired the rights to build the Italian-designed scooters from Innocenti in the early 1970s - but this is just conjecture.

We can't help but note that Wheego's decision to clearly ape the design of the classic Lambretta scooter for its electric two-wheeler follows the company's previous footsteps in the automotive realm, where it uses a design that seems to draw more than a bit of inspiration from the smart fortwo. In any case, Wheego apparently wants your feedback. Brilliance or Sacrilege, asks the ad. What do say you?

[Source: 2 Stroke Buzz]

Wheego to introduce electric Lambretta GP200e scooter? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Wheego Whip spun off from RTEV, low-speed electric car on track for late July

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 29 May 2009 13:34:00 EST

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

Ruff and Tuff Electric Vehicles Inc. (RTEV) has spun off its Wheego Electric Cars division. Wheego's first car, the low-speed Whip (pictured), should be available in late July (yes, that's a delay). According to Wheego, about 100 people have pre-ordered the $18,995 car that's not-a-Smart.

The reason for the spin-off is that RTEV wants to refocus its energy "on cost reduction and selling deeper into its established territory markets, instead of expanding into new markets," as RTEV chairman and CEO Mike McQuary (who will also become CEO of Wheego Electric Cars) said in a statement. Auto industry veteran Jeff Boyd (last seen at Miles EV) came to RTEV last fall to head up RTEV's Wheego Street Division and will continue as president of Wheego Electric Cars. Investors in RTEV "will own the same pro-rata share of Wheego as they currently have in RTEV," the company said.

[Source: RTEV]

Continue reading Wheego Whip spun off from RTEV, low-speed electric car on track for late July

Wheego Whip spun off from RTEV, low-speed electric car on track for late July originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 29 May 2009 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Wheego Whip U.S. sales pushed back to July

Sebastian Blanco — Thu, 21 May 2009 17:18:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, SMART, Green Daily, NEV (Neighborhood Electric Vehicle), Europe/EU, China, Wheego

Earlier this year, word was that the Wheego Whip was supposed to be available here in the U.S. in May. Looks like July is the new delivery date, so hold on if you want your s~~mart fortwo clone~~ minicar NEV. If you're saying, the "whee-go what now?", the Whip is an all-electric low-speed vehicle that is made in California but based on a platform that comes from China's Shuanghuan Automobile. According to Wheego, there are about 100 pre-orders for the $18,995 not-so-Smart car.

In related news, the vehicle that is used as the basis for the Whip, the Shuanghuan Noble, was just cleared by a Greek court to go on sale in Europe because, ready?, "an informed buyer would not confuse the Noble with the Smart Fortwo." Nah. There's no way you could confuse the two. The Noble has been involved in lawsuits for years.

[Source: USAToday, Carscoop]

Wheego Whip U.S. sales pushed back to July originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 21 May 2009 17:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments