Además de la autonomía, el factor determinante es el precio: unos 19.000 dólares, que al cambio actual son unos 14.000 euros.
La autonomía del Wheego es de 64 kilómetros, que viene a ser la distancia diaria que recorre un automóvil eléctrico. El Wheego está diseñado para las ciudades, que es donde se realizan la inmensa mayoría de los desplazamientos.
El vehículo eléctrico Wheego se vende en dos versiones, una con baterías de plomo más barata (unos 9.000 euros) y otra con baterías de iones de litio más cara.
En Estados Unidos el coche eléctrico Wheego ya se puede comprar por Internet en la web wheego.net/mission.html
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Wheego Whip electric car
Wheego Electric Cars, a division of RTEV, Inc., one of the first companies to deliver a full line of recreational and street electric LSVs (Low Speed Vehicles), announced that it is taking reservations for its first car, the Wheego Whip.
“Last week we announced that we are taking applications for Wheego dealerships, and we were pleasantly surprised at how many inquiries we received directly from customers who are ready to buy the car”, said Jeff Boyd, President of Wheego. “As consumers make more green-conscious car buying decisions, the Wheego Whip has emerged at the forefront as an affordable all electric solution to the transportation needs of many consumers.
The word has spread quickly on the Internet about the first customer-focused test drives of the Wheego Whip conducted in Ontario, CA in December, where there was unanimous praise for the car, and there are lots of people who want to be among the first to make a bold statement. The ensuing demand compelled us to use our website to take customer reservations for the car.”
Joe Young from Palo Alto, CA was among the first to make an inquiry to buy a Wheego Whip, and exemplifies the passion that RTEV hopes to elicit from customers. Young explains, “I am a first grade teacher in the Palo Alto Unified School District, and I have always been interested in vehicles that are compact and good for the environment. Conservation and reducing our waste have always been efforts that I value and practice myself. As a first grade teacher I am always looking for ways to impress upon both my students, as well as my colleagues, these values, and by driving a Wheego Whip, I will do exactly that.”
The Wheego Whip is a fully loaded two-passenger automobile with fit, finish and features that compete with any other subcompact car on the market. Remote keyless entry, air conditioning and an mp3 stereo system are standard equipment on the Whip. It retails for under $19,000, and it only costs about 3 cents per mile to operate. There is also a 10% Federal Tax credit on the purchase price of the car as a Low Speed Vehicle in 2009. When the Whip is eventually certified and sold as a full speed car, the Federal Tax credit will be $7,500.
“RTEV has employed a ‘creep out’ versus a ‘leap out’ launch strategy because I think the electric car industry has been somewhat tainted by credibility issues. Every week I see companies making outrageous claims regarding cars that are simply vaporware, or touting performance capabilities that are beyond the current realm of known physics. Because of this, we have been fairly quiet about our work on the Wheego the last two years, but it’s time to share our success, albeit in a realistic fashion.
The Whip is being launched as a Low Speed Vehicle with published performance specifications that comprehend real world driving expectations. Just because we can get single charge ranges of 60 miles on a dynamometer in optimal driving conditions doesn’t mean that we should publish that as an expected performance parameter. It just sets up customers for a disappointing ownership experience. One of the core values of our company is to make commitments with care, and then live up to them.
This philosophy extends to product claims. The Wheego Whip is our first electric car entry into the market, and as an LSV or MSV it has certain limitations. But for the properly educated consumer, it can be a wonderful solution to their driving needs. We are looking for customers who are not afraid of leading edge of technology, and in exchange for their pioneering spirit, we are going to offer some unique upgrade opportunities as technology evolves. It’s time to pound the drum that not only do we have the best affordable electric car in the world, but we’re setting a new standard in creating a relationship with our customers,” said RTEV CEO Mike McQuary.
Wheego has announced several innovative programs to spur the launch of the Whip. Purchasers of the Wheego Whip will be able to upgrade their vehicles as new technology emerges. If you buy an LSV Wheego Whip with AGM batteries and, when available, want to upgrade to:
1) Lithium Ion Batteries – the cost to upgrade will only be the difference between the net purchase price of your car and the MSRP of a new Whip LSV with Lithium Ion batteries
2) A new full speed Wheego Whip – the trade in value of your LSV Whip will be the net purchase price of your car less 2% for every month that you have owned your car. And you will receive a $7,500 federal tax rebate when you buy the full speed Whip.
“This is all part of our desire to create a community of customers that has a stake in the success of electric cars,” continued McQuary, “buying the car is just the beginning of a relationship and a personal dialogue that we will have with our customers, where together we believe that we can make a significant contribution to the betterment of our lives.”
Wheego, a small electric car company, announced they are going on a city-by-city tour to woo auto dealers that have been closed by Chrysler and General Motors into selling their green vehicles. A Detroit stop is planned, although no date has been given.
According to the Wheego site, its mission statement is "to make the best electric cars in the world and educate everyone as to the practical benefits of owning and driving one." A perk for potential buyers is that the vehicles do qualify for Federal Income Tax Credits.
The car is assembled in California with parts from across the world. "We consider the Wheego Whip an American made car. It is made with American technology and ingenuity, and more than half of the cost of the car is from North American parts suppliers," Wheego CEO Mike McQuary says.
The Wheego Whip, the base model which sort of resembles a Smart car, comes in two versions: the LSV and the MSEV. The LSV — short for Low Speed Vehicle — can only travel on roads that have posted speed limits of 35 mph or less. The same applies for the MSEV, or Medium Speed Vehicle.
Wheego Whips run on a 96 volt charge and can run for 40 miles before a recharge, which can take up to 8 hours. They measure at just under 10 feet long and a little over 5 feet wide, but seats two. Whips also have the bells and whistles of any typical car, such as power windows and locks and CD/MP3 player.
Interested Whip buyers are looking at a sticker price of about $19,000.
About RTEV
RTEV is an innovation-driven and environmentally-conscious manufacturer of Electric Vehicles (EVs). The company’s two product lines are Ruff & Tuff (recreational) and Wheego (street). Under the leadership of Mike McQuary, former president of MindSpring and EarthLink ISPs, RTEV has become a leader in the integration of advanced technology components that distinguishes the brand from other EVs and is the first EV company to deliver affordable LSVs to the marketplace through a national dealer network.
The Leadership:
Mike McQuary
CEO
Since: 2007
Biographical highlights: Prior to joining Wheego, McQ was focused on the music business as the CEO of Brash Music. Before that he was the president of the ISP EarthLink after its merger with MindSpring in February 2000. McQ developed the concept behind MindSpring with Charles Brewer, and was the president and COO of MindSpring. Prior to MindSpring, McQ served for 9 years in a variety of sales, marketing, operations, and management positions with a division of Mobil Corporation. McQ was on the varsity wrestling team at the University of Virginia and managed to receive a bachelor’s degree in psychology while missing few (if any) parties. He did the nights and weekends thing to get a masters degree in business administration from Pepperdine University. McQ serves on the Board of Inner Strength – an at risk youth education program, and is on the Chastain Park Conservancy Advisory Board.
Jeff Boyd
President
Since: 2008
Biographical highlights:
Jeff Boyd came to Wheego with over 25 years of automotive experience. At Wheego, Boyd top priorities are to oversee daily operations of Wheego Electric Cars, build the Wheego consumer brand, develop a world class dealer organization to provide sales and service support for Wheego, and to facilitate the development of the company FS/FS (full size/full speed) all electric sedan. Prior to joining the company Boyd was CEO of Miles Electric Vehicles in Santa Monica, California. Previously, he was COO of the O´Brien Automotive Team, which operated 32 franchises at 14 locations in four states, and he was an executive with United Auto Group, the second largest publicly traded automotive retailer in the U.S.
Questions:
1. What are the smart, green or eco-friendly features of your business or product?
The Wheego Whip is an all-electric low-speed vehicle that offers consumers an emission-free method of transportation. The Whip distinguishes itself from other electric vehicles currently on the market with its long running dry cell sealed (AGM) batteries, which require no maintenance and will not harm the environment.
2. What inspired your business or product?
At the same time the traditional automotive industry began to falter, there was explosive growth in battery technology and increasing concern about global warming and energy security. A small, intelligent and nimble company could fill the void with an an affordable electric car. The Wheego Whip will meet the growing consumer demand.
3. How do you envision customers using your services or product?
Wheego is filling a real demand gap for alternative transportation that is affordable. People want to be environmentally conscious with their vehicle choices, but they don´t want to sacrifice styling and comfort to do it. The Wheego Whip fills this need. The Whip will not be the right car for everyone, it depends upon your personal transportation needs. While it could be the sole car in for some drivers, it is just as likely to be a family 2nd car, or even 3rd car, and then they can pick the right tool for the right transportation need.
4. How do you see your business or product fitting in to the green movement?
As a combination of macro-events causes the American public to take personal inventory of their habits across a wide spectrum which includes personal transportation, Wheego is entering the marketplace with cutting-edge cars that fill a middle-market demand gap at the right time, with the right vehicles and a developing national dealer network that will provide outstanding service and support.
5. What would you change about your community, country or world to make it more eco-friendly?
We feel consumers around the world should be making some sort of effort to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Whether that´s through recycling, purchasing locally grown food or using alternative transportation, everything little bit helps.
Product statistics:
1. When was your product first conceived? 2007
2. Where was it conceived? In Atlanta, Georgia
3. Who is responsible for developing it? Wheego Electric Cars, Inc.
4. How much was the original retail price? How much does it cost now? Pricing starts at $18,995, and the Whip costs about 3 cents per mile to operate. There is also a $7500 Federal Tax credit for cars purchased in 2009.
5. Where is it currently made? Parts and chasses come from the U.S., Canada and China with final assembly in Ontario, California.
6. Where was it first made available? The vehicle will begin shipping across the US in August of 2009. Consumers can currently reserve their Wheego Whip online at www.wheego.net.
