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Two more automakers can test self-driving cars in California
You might not have heard of Wheego and Valeo before, but they must be doing something right when it comes to self-driving vehicles. California has given them permission to test one autonomous car each on its roads, according to The Wall Street Journal. The state recently approved a bill that allows fully autonomous car testing -- in other words, test vehicles will be allowed to drive around without a human operator. Wheego and Valeo, however, will have to work their way up to that point. Their cars still need to be operated by up to four human drivers.
Wheego needs more cash to produce LiFe EVs, 'living hand-to-mouth' for now
Oh, how the winds of fortune can swirl. Just a few weeks after finally selling its first LiFe electric car to a happy couple in Atlanta, Wheego appears to have suddenly fallen on hard financial times. Very hard times. Speaking to Automotive News, CEO Mike McQuary claimed that his startup's coffers are bare enough to jeopardize future production of Wheego's flagship, battery-powered two-seater: "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." McQuary didn't say how far behind schedule Wheego is at the moment, but part of the problem seems to be finding enough money to buy parts for its $32,995, 100-mile range EVs. The company's plant in California was supposed to produce 200 vehicles a month starting in January, in the hopes of eventually churning out 60,000 a year. Those plans, however, were soon derailed, due to unexpectedly delayed approval from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration -- a setback that also hurt the company's capital raising campaigns. The company is hoping to raise some $15 million with the help of a VC firm in Connecticut, but until it does, Wheego may not be going anywhere.
Couple in Atlanta finally gets a LiFe, courtesy of Wheego
Wheego has, at long last, let its first $32,995, 100-mile range LiFe electric two-seater loose on the public, and added another cute little electric car to the US EV collective. By either stroke-of-luck or sheer coincidence (no way is it intentional), the first of the breed was delivered today, otherwise known as Earth Day, to a couple of lucky owners in the ATL. Good to see Dixieland drivers (who often prefer something with a lift kit and Super Swampers to fuel-efficient subcompacts) bringing cleaner motoring to the derrrty South.
Wheego's so-called Whip LiFe delayed, supposedly still coming soon
We'd thought the thing were on their way, scoring EPA certification back in December and, in theory, almost ready to roll. Turns out Department of Transportation approval is taking a little longer than anticipated, and so the $32,995, 65mph, 100 mile range cars still aren't fully road legal. The company has indicated it's received 500 orders for the things, orders which it hopes to start shipping by the end of this month. Given how many X's we have on our calendar this month that may prove to be optimistic as well, but still probably more realistic than your chances of getting a Leaf this year.
Wheego Whip LiFe grabs up EPA certification
Yes! Another reason to write about the darling and awesomely-named Wheego Whip LiFe! This time, it's good news indeed, as the all electric micro-car has received EPA certification. The cars, which are priced at a reasonably affordable $32,995 (or $25,495 after the Federal tax credit), are now simply waiting for final approval from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration before they can roll into dealerships. It looks like the cars will ship at the beginning of the year now, with production well underway for the past few months. We'll take two, please.
Wheego Whip gets pictured, driven around at mind-blowingly slow speeds
Given just how difficult it has been for even Chevrolet to get its all-electric gears going, we kind of wondered if we'd ever hear more about the Wheego Whip after it quietly faded earlier this year. Lo and behold, the low-speed city car has made an appearance at AltCar 2009, and after receiving about 100 orders, it seems the car is all but ready to begin pleasing those who shelled out just under 20 large for the privilege of a pink slip. Our good pals over at Autoblog Green were able to zip around in the car recently and serve up some impressions of the drive, and while it didn't seem to live up to the "Cadillac of neighborhood electric vehicles" claim, it definitely got the job done... at 25 miles per hour. Hit the read link for a gallery of shots and a fresh take on what a whisper quiet, low-speed driving experience is like.
RTEV begins taking orders for Wheego Whip electric car
If you're the type of Earth-loving individual who ain't got nowhere to go in a hurry, RTEV's ready and willing to take your order a brand new Wheego Whip. The company's first street electric LSV (low speed vehicle) will begin shipping to early adopters in May, and it's primed to carry up to two individuals and a few empty cola bottles anywhere you need to go -- so long as there's an AC outlet waiting at Point B. It's retailing for under $19,000 and includes an MP3 stereo system, remote keyless entry, air conditioning and a sweet 10 percent Federal Tax credit. Of note, RTEV has plans to eventually produce a higher speed model of this very car, and there's a trade-in program available (with terms that aren't half bad) for those interested. For all the fine print, give that read link a tap.
All-electric Wheego Whip hitting America in May... slowly
You can probably tell from the image above that the Wheego Whip isn't the fastest automobile to ever hit the streets, but it'll still be getting Americans from point A to point B before most of those other "concepts" will. The company is currently looking to score dealers that will sell its "electric LSVs (Low Speed Vehicles)," the first of which is obviously the Whip. If all goes to plan, it'll have 50 dealers across America by May, and given that this is "the best affordable electric car in the world" (that's the words of RTEV CEO Mike McQuary), we'd say all 50 should be brimming with customers. Unfortunately, we're not told just how fast slow this thing actually goes nor how expensive cheap it'll be, but hey, May's just a few months out, anyway.
