by Steve Hanley, Providence Automotive Examiner, September 25, 2009

Wheego wants to be your electric LSV car company. With a brash marketing campaign that dares its customers to “Drive Change”, I prefer to think of this company as more of an up-start than a start-up. But first, what the heck is an LSV, anyway?

In 1998, NHTSA set up rules for a class of Low Speed Vehicles. These rules allow an LSV to drive on any street with a posted speed lilmit of 35 mph or less. The cars themselves are restricted to a maximum speed of 25 mph. In other words, an LSV is perfectly suited for most urban environments.

Based in Atlanta, Wheego imports the high strength, unibody chassis for its cars from China. Batteries and finishing components sourced from the US and  Canada are installed at the company’s manufaturing facility in Ontario, CA. The cars are fully equipped with power steering and brakes, power windows, sound systems and on-board charging system. Even air conditioning is available.

When the batteries are fully charged, driving range is a maximum of 55 miles. But the company wisely suggests range in real world driving will be about 40 miles, which means that the Wheego meets the needs of half of American drivers. Less than 10 feet long and 5 feet wide, the Wheego fits into parking spaces that other cars have to pass up.

The Wheego Whip, priced at $18,995, is available now. Until the end of 2009, there is a whopping $7500 tax credit available. If the Wheego is suitable for your driving needs, the time to act is now, as the tax credit drops to 10% of the purchase price in 2010.

Full specifications for the Wheego Whip are available at the Wheego website. While you are there, click the “Buy A Wheego” link on the home page to get a Wheego in your driveway before Christmas.  Or contact Wheego headquarters if you need further assistance.

What role with the all-electric car play in America’s driving future? Hard to say, but it is interesting that there were many more electrics at the beginning of the automotive age then there were gasoline powerd cars. It was only when gasoline became readily available that the switch to internal combustion engines occurred. Now, electrics are making a comeback.  If you want to be in the forefront of the return of the electric car, the Wheego Whip may be your best choice.