Wheego Starts Taking Orders for the Whip LSV

Posted on March 5, 2009 by Marc Cesare

Wheego announced yesterday that they have begun taking orders for their Wheego Whip electric vehicle. The LSV is expected to ship in May of this year. Last week’s announcement regarding the launch of their dealership network generated a strong response from potential vehicle buyers as well. According to the company’s press release:

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.

Wheego is offering a number of incentives related to the launch of the Whip including special programs for upgrading the vehicles when Lithium ion battery packs or full speed versions of the vehicle are available, as well as cash rebates for referring other customers. Learn more

Bobcat Turns To Polaris To Produce “Work” Vehicles

Posted on March 5, 2009 by Marc Cesare

Bobcat has entered into a strategic alliance with Polaris to co-develop vehicles for the work segment of the utility vehicle market. The first vehicles are expected to hit the market in the latter half of 2010 and replace Bobcat’s 2100, 2200 and 2300 utility vehicles currently manufactured by Club Car. Bobcat and Club Car were both part of Ingersoll Rand before Bobcat was acquired by Doosan Infracore in late 2007. The alliance will help Polaris expand beyond their strengths in the powersports/recreational vehicle segment. Bobcat reports that only 20 of 1,800 Polaris dealers currently sell Bobcat products. The agreement will not have an affect Bob Cat’s Tool Cat line or the Polaris Ranger line. Learn more

Shandong Baoya Vehicle Company Claims Impressive US Sales

Posted on March 4, 2009 by Marc Cesare

BaoYa Electric Vehicle From China

Shandong Baoya Vehicle Company of China recently reported impressive US sales for their BaoYa vehicle. The company claims 500 vehicles were sold in 2008 and that orders for 2009 have already reached 4,800. The vehicle has a top speed of 50 mph (limited to 25 mph as a low speed vehicle) and a range of 90 miles according to the company. The vehicle is priced in China at $4,500 to $5,000.

Comment: I am skeptical about these sales figures for both 2008 and 2009. The 2008 figures would mean they outsold more well known LSVs like ZENN and Tomberlin and the 2009 figure would put them on par with GEM sales, all while going largely unnoticed in the market. The performance characteristics at that price point also seem optimistic.

Pursu Mobility’s Urban Vehicle Concept

Posted on March 4, 2009 by Marc Cesare

This story from greencar.com reports on an interesting three-wheel hybrid vehicle concept targeting the urban commuter segment. The concept includes technology of Dutch origin that allows the vehicle body to tilt during turns depending on vehicle speed. As a three wheeler it would be classified as a motorcycle. The company, Pursu Mobility, expects a launch in 2010.

Electrovaya’s Maya 300 To Be First Li-Ion Powered LSV In North America

Posted on February 25, 2009 by Marc Cesare

Electrovaya's Lithium-Ion Powered Maya 300

If all goes according to plan the Maya 300 will be available this summer in the US and Canada. The LSV will be available with either a 12 KW or 18 KW Lithium ion battery pack, which will give the vehicle a range of 80 km or 120km respectively. Produced by Electrovaya, the LSV will be priced around $20,000 and will be assembled in either Mississauga, Ontario, or Malta, NY, the final decision is yet to be made.

The Maya 300 is based on the Chana Benni car which is manufactured by Chana International Corporation in Chongqing (province of Sichuan) with styling by Bertrone of Italy. Learn more

Tata Developing Electric Nano For Western Markets

Posted on February 24, 2009 by Marc Cesare

Tata Motors is developing an electric powered version of their Nano. The gas powered Nano will hit the Indian market later this year, and with a price tag of $2,000 will be the cheapest car in the world. However, for Western markets, the company wants to sell an alternative fuel vehicle. To this end, Tata Motors acquired a majority stake in Miljo Grenland Innovasjon last year. The Norwegian company specializes in electric car technology. The low speed electric Nano will be targeted towards urban and gated community market segments. Tata is also working with MDI Enterprises on a compressed air powered version of the car, which will also be a low-speed vehicle. Learn more

Wheego Announces Launch of Dealer Network

Posted on February 24, 2009 by Marc Cesare

Wheego recently announced the official launch of their dealer network. According to the company’s press release, their first car, the Wheego Whip will be available in May of this year and they plan to have 50 dealers in place at that time. Commenting on the dealer network President Jeff Boyd states,

These will be a combination of traditional car dealers as well as a new type of dealer who exclusively sells electric vehicles and combines several manufacturers such ZENN, ZAP, and MILES in one dealership.

Wheego is a division of RTEV which produces electric vehicles for recreational use under the Ruff & Tuff brand and vehicles for street use under the Wheego brand.

Chrysler Creates Separate Subsidiary for Peapod

Posted on February 23, 2009 by Marc Cesare

Peapod From Newly Formed Peapod Mobility, LLC

Chrysler recently created a separate subsidiary, Peapod Mobility, LLC, to market the Peapod, which had been under the GEM brand. The new company is headed up by Chrysler “brand guru” Peter Arnell who helped design the Peapod. The company is targeting the 20 something segment with the vehicle. Arnell recently told Brandweek,

You know how the Beetle was the vehicle of choice for the whole ’60s, the hippie revolution and everything? We’re hoping that this becomes the new-wave car for the younger set as well as addressing mom and her needs with her kids.

The company expects to deliver the first Peapod. a four-seater, in September 2009 followed by a two-seater later in the year and a utility vehicle in the Spring of 2010. Learn more

Comment: If they do produce a utility vehicle what will that mean for GEM which sells a large number of vehicles configured as utility vehicles. It seems like it would put the companies in direct competition. The other question is whether or not NEVs with their limited mobility will appeal to a younger and presumably more mobile market segment.

Japanese Firm Exhibits Electric One-Seater

Posted on February 4, 2009 by Marc Cesare

Prototype T10 Minicar

Takeoka Jidosha Kogei Ltd exhibited a prototype of their upgraded electric minicar at the Interational Automotive Electronics Technology Expo in Tokyo Japan last week. The minicar, currently named T10, is expected to be available in Japan sometime in 2009 and will be priced above $9,520, the cost of their current model in the market, the Milieu R.

The T10 is slightly longer, wider and higher than the Milieu R and is powered by four 12 volt batteries. The top speed is 55 km/h and the range is 50 km/hr. Curtis Instruments provides the controller for the vehicle. Learn more

EMI Introduces New UTV

Posted on February 2, 2009 by Marc Cesare

Silverback UTV from EMI

Eminent Motorsports International (EMI) has introduced the Silverback, a new UTV for 2009. Targeting the recreational market, the Silverback features a 812cc, 52hp engine which gives the Silverback a top speed of over 60 mph according to EMI. Other features include four speed manual transmission, 75 amp alternator, independent suspension, dual exhaust and four wheel disc brakes. The MSRP for the Silverback is $10,999. Learn More

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