Wheego electric cars are now represented by an EV marketed as a neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV). A highway capable version called the Wheego Whip is on the way. The Whip looks a lot like the Smart Car, a fact not unnoticed by Daimler.
The NEV is just that: 35 mph top speed, 40 mile raqnge, and 8 hours to top off the lead acid battery pack. The car retails in the New England area of the US for $19,000. The car is Chinese manufactured (a modified Shuanghuan Noble), and assembled in Ontario, California.
If the Whip passes its safety clearances by this fall, you may be able to more than double the speed and range of the NEV for about 1/3 more cost. The highway capable Wheego Whip specifications list a top speed of 67 mph or
100 kph with a range of around 100 mi or 160 km.
The Whip is expected to list for around $30,000 US. The car boasts a bunch of modern amenities and features including a charging time of 3 hours with an optional charger. That is ambitious considering that the pack is 28 kWh. Wheego electric cars will store 4 kWh more energy than the Nissan Leaf.
The Whip is listed at 2,435 lbs empty weight and the Leaf at 3,400 lbs empty. Since the Whip weighs nearly 1,000 lbs less than the Leaf and has 4 kWh additional energy storage, the Whip would appear to be a winner in the range category no matter what is listed. The Leaf also claims a 100 mile range.
In terms of cost, the Wheego electric cars look good by comparison. The Leaf comes in at around $40,000 US before tax credits. The Whip is not listed, but may be say $32,000. That gives costs of around $32,500 US for the Leaf and $24,500 for the Whip after Federal tax credit .
All in all, the Whip looks like a pretty good deal in a modern EV if you can fit into the car!
Company Profile
The Wheego company has an interesting profile as compared to other car companies these days. The company is privately owned, and has remained small with a total of 7.5 employees based in Atlanta, Georgia.
The plan is to custom make Wheego's to meet the demand. Demand has been admittedly slow. Some 34 Wheego EVs have been sold of 36 built since mid-2011. You can get a Whip now in Atlanta, Georgia. Jim Ellis Automotive is retailing the cars for $32,995 minus a $7,500 Federal incentive.
