Wheego

[snoltor]

New electric car options are cropping up everywhere. I saw a Wheego LiFE on the road in Davis yesterday (and a Tesla and an ActiveE while we're counting). According wikipedia it's been around a while so I'm late with this news. The manufacturers website lists a 30kwh battery with 100 mile range, and it's highway capable. Very small, but nice to see EV options out there on the road.

http://wheego.net/more/vehicles/

 

[miimura]

If this is the size of car that interests you, a Smart ED is a much better vehicle at a lower price.

http://www.smartusa.com/models/electric-drive/overview.aspx

 

[AvLegends]

Looks a lot like a smart car...

 

[cwerdna]

Wow. I'm surprised they've sold any. I posted briefly about my driving impressions at http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/17891-Wheego-To-Offer-Electric-SUV-For-About-44-000-%28June-13-2013%29?p=363360&viewfull=1#post363360 at Alt Car Expo. For the price they're asking, they're nuts.

For those in So Cal or those who can easily make it there, you might be able to test drive one at http://www.altcarexpo.com/index.html. The car list is still from last year. That was where I got to test drive the Rav4 EV. They had just gone on sale a few days or so before it. For anyone into BEVs, PHEVs, FCVs, etc., it's great to be able to test drive. Don't expect a very long test drive or a trip onto the freeway though.

I drive down there from the Bay Area last year.

 

[eschatfische]

That price is just crazy. $35990 shipped with air conditioning before credits? That's only around $2000-$3000 less than the RAV4 EVs could be had for last month.

On the other hand, I was pretty impressed by the Smart Electric Drive when I drove one of the Car2Go rental fleet while I was on vacation in Austin last year. It "followed us around" - always untouched in the last place we left it - since I guess nobody else wanted to rent an EV. While I've driven the ICE Smart Fortwos on a few occasions, I always thought they were uniquely awful to drive, with a miserable transmission and clumsy brakes. The Smart Electric Drive, on the other hand, was smooth and fun. Our positive experience with the Smart ED was a major factor in our decision to purchase our RAV4 EV.

 

[Ampster]

.......

For those in So Cal or those who can easily make it there, you might be able to test drive one at http://www.altcarexpo.com/index.html. The car list is still from last year. That was where I got to test drive the Rav4 EV. They had just gone on sale a few days or so before it. For anyone into BEVs, PHEVs, FCVs, etc., it's great to be able to test drive. Don't expect a very long test drive or a trip onto the freeway though.
.........

I was there last year with a friend. We test drove the RAV4EV and within days each of us had put down a deposit. Great show.

 

[cwerdna]

^^^
Yep. Great show indeed. And, I believe the show itself is free but parking isn't.

That price is just crazy. $35990 shipped with air conditioning before credits? That's only around $2000-$3000 less than the RAV4 EVs could be had for last month.

And a '13 Nissan Leaf S trim level (lowest trim) is $28,800 + $850 destination charge before $7500 Federal tax credit and $2500 CVRP. The Leaf is WAY more refined than that POS Wheego and from an established automaker. It also comes w/AC.

See pricing tab of http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/presskits/us-2013-nissan-leaf-press-kit.

 

[snoltor]

Looks a lot like a smart car...

Sure does. Body built in China, electric drivetrain installed here in California. Apparently iPhones aren't the only things that are cloned... Guess which one is the Smart. Saw the same car driving around again today. Like I said, I'm glad to see EV options out there, but hard to imagine paying so much money for this.

 

[snoltor]

Looks like it would be worth the trip, I'd feel like a kid at christmas. Unfortunately it'll have to wait until next year, I'll be at a work conference then.

http://www.altcarexpo.com/index.html