Wheego Whip

The Wheego Whip was an early-2010s limited-production all-electric city car developed as the electric version of the Chinese Noble by Shuanghuan Auto and RTEV (Ruff & Tuff Electric Vehicles).[1] The production version, called Wheego LiFe, was unveiled at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show and was sold in the United States at a price of US$32,995 before any applicable tax credits and other incentives.[2][3]

Wheego Whip LiFe
Overview
ManufacturerShuanghuan Auto
and Wheego Electric Cars Inc.
Also calledShuanghuan E-Noble
Production2011–2013
AssemblyShijiazhuang, Hebei, China
Body and chassis
Body style2-door hatchback
RelatedShuanghuan Noble
Powertrain
Electric motor45 kW (60 hp)
Battery30 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery
Range100 mi (160 km)
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,025 mm (79.7 in)
Length3,010 mm (118.5 in)
Width1,605 mm (63.2 in)
Height1,600 mm (63.0 in)
Curb weight1,210 kg (2,667 lb)

The Wheego LiFe was built with a 30 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack and had an all-electric range of 100 miles (161 km).[4]

The first delivery took place on April 2011 to a customer in Atlanta.[5] A total of approximately 400 units were sold through 2013, when production ceased.[6]

History

Wheego Electric Cars Inc. was formed as a spin out from RTEV (Ruff & Tuff Electric Vehicles) in June 2009 and its first automobile was a two-seat compact car under the Wheego Whip name in North America and marketed by Shuanghuan Auto in China as the E-Noble, its brand name for the rest of the world. The car was capable of speeds of 95 km/h (59 mph). In the U.S. it was to be launched in August 2009 as a low-speed vehicle with a top speed of 25 mph (40 km/h) or as a Medium Speed Vehicle with a maximum speed of 35 mph (56 km/h), depending on local state regulations.[1] These versions used dry cell sealed AGM lead–acid batteries, with an all-electric range of 80 kilometres (50 mi) on a single charge, and capable of recharging on any standard household 110 or 220-volt electrical outlet.[1]

Specifications

The 2011 Wheego Whip LiFe had the following specifications:[7]

  • Battery: 30 kWh (36 3.2 V cells at 260 Ah) lithium iron phosphate battery pack.
  • Motor: Nominal 15 kW (20 hp), peak horsepower 45 kW (60 hp)
  • Range: 100 mi (160 km)
  • Torque: 95 lb⋅ft (129 N⋅m)
  • Charge capable: 120 V and 240 V
  • Charging time: From 50% SoC to 100% Soc 5 hours with Level 2 charging system
  • On board charge port: J1772 compliant
  • Top speed: 65 miles per hour (105 km/h) at 8,500 rpm

Production and sales
Wheego Whip all-electric car at the 2010 Washington Auto Show.

The 2011 Wheego LiFe production model used a 30 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack, could reach speeds up to 65 miles per hour (105 km/h) and Wheego Electric Cars claimed that it had an all-electric range of 100 miles (161 km).[4] The chassis was the same as the Shuanghuan Noble, which once imported from China was reinforced for safety in the U.S. assembly plant to pass U.S. crash-testing.[4] Final assembly took place in Corona, California. Around 73% of the vehicle was composed of American products giving it a high domestic content rating.

The first Wheego LiFe was delivered to a customer in Atlanta, Georgia on April 22 (Earth Day), 2011.[5][8][9] As of March 2012, the company had manufactured 36 cars since April 2011, and only two cars were left in inventory. Wheego's business strategy was to build the cars only when the company gets money from sales or through venture capital.[10] About 400 units were sold through 2013, when production ended.[6]

See also

References
  1. "RTEV and Shuanghuan Automobile Form EV Partnership". Green Car Congress. 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2010-06-17.
  2. "Wheego Debuts $32,995 Whip LiFe EV, Says Customer Deliveries to Start in Weeks". Edmunds.com. 2010-11-18. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
  3. Voelcker, John. "Wheego Electric Cars Fade From Market; China Is The Future, Company Says". Green Car Reports. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  4. "Wheego now accepting pre-orders for $32,995 LiFe electric car". AutoblogGreen. 2010-06-15. Retrieved 2010-06-15.
  5. Blanco, Sebastian. "Wheego delivers first LiFe vehicle in time for Earth Day". AutoblogGreen. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. LeSage, Jon (2016-10-24). "Wheego Now Autonomous Electric Tech Company, Not An Automaker". HybridCARS. Retrieved 2016-11-01.
  7. Wheego. "2011 Wheego LiFe Technical Specifications". Wheego.net. Retrieved 2010-11-27.
  8. Wirth, Michelle. "Reporter". WABE/PBA. publicbroadcasting.net. Retrieved 2011-05-31.
  9. Woodyard, Chris (2011-04-22). "Atlanta couple buys first Wheego electric car". USA Today. USA Today. Retrieved 2011-06-25.
  10. Jim Motavalli (2012-03-14). "Can The Tiny Wheego Win The Electric Car Race?". Forbes. Retrieved 2012-03-22.
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