wheego | electric vehicles » electric vehicle

‘Wheego’ to Reading to see new electric car dealership

susan — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:46:48 +0000

excerpted from an article by Paul Feely in the Middlesex East paper at HomeNewsHere.com.

Dan Enxing (right) and John Zaeder of Ecars in Reading have recently opened the first electric car franchise in New England. The duo stands next to the Wheego electric car. Photo by HomeNewsNow

Reading’s high school colors may be red and black, but one new business on Main Street is adding another color to the mix – green.

Dan Enxing, President of Subaru of Nashua, New Hampshire and co-founder with John Zaeder of Go Green Realty Trust in Hudson, New Hampshire, has opened an ECars of New England dealership at 281 Main Street in Reading, the former site of the Artists Frame Shop.

Zaeder and Enxing are looking to ride what they hope will be a growing wave of support for electric cars, in both sales and usage throughout the region.

“It is the first new electric car franchise in New England,” said Enxing.

Enxing became interested in the site after learning about it online.

“I was looking for suitable locations one day, and I came across this site,” said Enxing. “It seemed like there were some environmental challenges with it, and it seemed like a great fit.”

The dealership, located on a 36,340 square foot lot, specializes in sales of Wheego Whip cars, though hybrid cars from other companies are also sold there.

The Wheego Whip LiFe Full-Speed all-electric car recently became available for purchase. The Whip LiFe runs on a lithium battery pack, and will go approximately 100 miles on a charge. The sticker price on the Wheego Whip LiFe is targeted in the low $30K’s.

“That’s the highway version of the Wheego,” said Enxing. “There’s another version, meant for around town or city driving, that gets slightly less mileage per charge.”

With gas prices on the rise at the pumps again weekly, Enxing couldn’t be more excited about the future of the electric car industry.

“The price of oil is going to take off this spring,” said Enxing. “These are great cars. They look great, they have a lot of room inside – a tall man can fit inside comfortably. We have a lot of confidence in this. It will be the first new electric car franchise in New England, and we are excited.”

Wheego Electric Cars distinguishes itself from other electric vehicles currently on the market with its long running dry cell sealed (AGM) batteries, which require no maintenance and will not harm the environment.

Its vehicles feature on-board high tech chargers and battery systems can allow travel up to 50 miles on a single charge – and plug in for a recharge on any standard home 120 volt electrical outlet.

Electric cars – What’s the fuss all about?

An electric car is powered by an electric motor instead of a gasoline engine. The electric motor gets energy from a controller, which regulates the amount of power—based on the driver’s use of an accelerator pedal. The electric car (also known as electric vehicle or EV) uses energy stored in its rechargeable batteries, which are recharged by common household electricity.

Unlike a hybrid car—which is fueled by gasoline and uses a battery and motor to improve efficiency—an electric car is powered exclusively by electricity. Historically, EVs have not been widely adopted because of limited driving range before needing to be recharged, long recharging times, and a lack of commitment by automakers to produce and market electric cars that have all the creature comforts of gas-powered cars. That’s changing. As battery technology improves—simultaneously increasing energy storage and reducing cost—major automakers are expected to begin introducing a new generation of electric cars.

The recent years have seen a remarkable activity in the global electric vehicle industry. Growing environmental concerns and an increase in oil prices in 2007-2008 provided manufacturers as well as consumers with ample thrust to accelerate the transition towards electric vehicles (EVs).

Several major as well as small manufacturers ventured into the manufacture of electric vehicles, while a few others announced plans for the same. Technological breakthroughs have expanded the scope of electric vehicles considerably. These developments are expected to result in widespread acceptance of electric vehicles across mass markets.

The US presently constitutes the largest regional market for electric vehicles, accounting for more than 50% of the global market, as reported by the new market research report on Electric Vehicles. Nevertheless, growth is expected to emanate mainly from Asia-Pacific, with countries such as China and Japan setting aggressive production and sales goals. Sales of electric vehicles in Japan are projected to reach 433,000 units by 2012.

Cayman Automotive striving for a greener future

susan — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:40:58 +0000

from the CayCompass, January 23, 2012

Cayman Automotive is leading the way in introducing eco-conscious personal transportation to the Cayman Islands and the entire Caribbean. Thanks to new legislation, electric vehicles from Cayman Automotive will soon be zipping up and down the Islands’ roadways.

The company strives for a more environmentally responsible future, committing to the use of alternative, renewable energy sources and less dependence on fossil fuels.

Specialising in sales and leasing of new and pre-owned US-manufactured vehicles, Cayman Automotive was the first company in the Caribbean to introduce electric vehicles, bringing the Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle to the Cayman Islands in 2011.

In October, the company received its first Wheego fully electric vehicle. With a maximum speed of 85 mph and a range of 100 miles, the Wheego will be available at around half the cost of the Chevrolet Volt, Cayman Automotive president John Felder says.

Alongside importing electric-powered vehicles, Mr. Felder has been working with a team of energy management experts to establish a network of charging stations for electric vehicles throughout Grand Cayman.

Cayman Automotive has been developing plans in collaboration with experts from Corporate Electric, U-Go-Station-Cayman and the US-based Eaton corporation to ensure the underlying infrastructure is in place so that as soon as laws are finalised, charging stations can be installed and customers will be able to use their electric vehicles, safe in the knowledge that they will not run out of power.

In June, Mr. Felder unveiled the first solar panel charging station for electric vehicles at Governors Square. It will be the first such charging station, not only in the Cayman Islands, but in the Caribbean.

The first charging station will have two parking spaces and uses a modular design with solar panels built as a canopy above the parking spaces.

When not being used to charge vehicles, power generated by the solar panels will be fed back into the CUC grid, and when there is insufficient sunlight to charge batteries, additional power can be drawn from the grid.

Charging time at the Level 2 charging station will take four to six hours, significantly less than a level 1 domestic charger, which would take 10 to 12 hours to fully charge an electric car.

A network of 14 such stations are planned for Grand Cayman, strategically located in areas with retail stores and businesses such as Camana Bay, Foster’s West Bay and the Strand, and Hurley’s.

Further east, charging stations are planned for the Reef Resort and Kaibo. Some of these locations will use the level three charger which will reduce charge time to 20 to 30 minutes.

Vehicle owners will be able to shop, go to work, dine out or even enjoy the beach while their vehicle is being charged, as well as never being out of range of a charging station. At the same time it is hoped that the location of the stations will help boost trade for local businesses.

Some of the charge stations will be free while some will be fee based

Mr. Felder has been working for the past six years to bring electric vehicles to the Cayman Islands. Early electric vehicles were not commercially viable due to their slow speeds and short ranges.

Improved technology means that these problems are in large part being overcome and all the 100 per cent electric vehicles now being offered have passed the U.S. Safety and Crash Tests standards.

Mr Felder is offering customers a free level 2 charger, including installation, when they purchase a Chevrolet Volt or any electric vehicles being offered..

The introduction of the first solar-powered charging station in the Caribbean is the result of a collaboration between various Caymanian and U.S. businesses (Cayman Automotive, Corporate Electric, U-Go Stations, Inc.) and the US based Eaton, all of whom have contributed their expertise to help move the Cayman Islands towards a greener tomorrow.

Even with the vehicles on hand and charging stations installed, changes to legislation were still necessary to allow all-electric vehicles to operate on Cayman’s roads.

In December, Governor Duncan Taylor signed the revised Cayman Islands Traffic Law, which included provisions to legalise the use of all-electric vehicles, such as the Wheego.

Provisions for both neighbourhood electric vehicles and electric-powered cars that can be driven on Cayman Islands roads alongside gas-powered cars were included in the Traffic Bill.

Neighbourhood electric vehicles are lower-powered cars generally driven on side streets and parking lots, but which cannot be driven on main thoroughfares. Larger, faster brands of electric-powered vehicles will be allowed to be registered for use on local roads.

Right now, most electric-powered vehicles can’t be registered in the Cayman Islands because they can’t go fast enough and some only travel up to 40 to 50 miles on a charge.

However, vehicles currently being imported by Cayman Automotive can travel at speeds of 65 to 85 miles per hour and can drive up to 100 miles on a charge.

Legislators also have passed the Motor Vehicle Insurance (Third Party Risk) Amendment Bill 2011 to enable electric vehicles travelling on public roads to be insured.

For more info
T: (345) 749-0900
W: www.caymanautomotive.com

Wheego Electric Cars Adds California Dealer

susan — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:37:47 +0000

ATLANTA (January 26, 2012) – WHEEGO ELECTRIC CARS, a U.S. manufacturer of all-electric cars, today announced that Richard Hibbard Auto Center, in Claremont, California has been named a new Wheego dealer in Southern California.

Wheego CEO Mike McQuary welcomes Richard Hibbard Auto Center. “Our cars are assembled in Ontario, California, just a few miles from Hibbard in Claremont. That area of California has great potential for electric vehicles, and Hibbard Auto Center is a trusted name in the auto business for both sales and service. They are just minutes from the Claremont Colleges, which boast top tier academics and a proven commitment to sustainability. We are happy to have Hibbard Auto join the team. They have our cars in their dealership now and are ready for test drives.”

Richard Hibbard Auto Center will showcase the Wheego line of electric vehicles at their second annual American Red Cross Blood Drive on February 3, 2012 from 10am to 4pm. A free BBQ lunch will be served to all blood donors, and to anyone bringing their car in for service at the Hibbard Auto Service Center.

The Wheego LiFe comes fully-equipped with driver and passenger airbags, anti-lock brakes, power windows and locks, and optional air conditioning. The 115V lithium battery pack can be charged from a standard 120V outlet, a 240V outlet or any of the J1772 standard charging stations being installed in public locations throughout theUnited States. The LiFe travels approximately 100 miles on a single charge. It is available in red, white, blue, black, silver, and green. The Wheego LiFe is a two-seat subcompact car with fit, finish and features designed for today’s environmentally-conscious commuters. The LiFe starts at $32,995 and qualifies for a $7500 Federal tax credit and a $2000 California tax credit.

Hibbard Auto Center will also carry the Wheego Whip low-speed vehicle, a subcompact car designed for campuses and government fleets. The Wheego Whip list price is $19,995.

About Richard Hibbard Auto Center

Richard Hibbard Auto Center is a family-owned business begun in 1981. They are located at 191 S Indian Hill Blvd in Claremont, California. For more information about Richard Hibbard Auto Center, visit http://www.richardhibbardautocenter.com/.

About Wheego Electric Cars

Wheego Electric Cars is an innovation-driven and environmentally-conscious manufacturer of Electric Vehicles (EVs). Under the leadership of Mike McQuary, CEO and former MindSpring entrepreneur, Wheego Electric Cars has become a leader in the integration of advanced technology components. Wheego Electric Cars is one of the first EV companies to deliver affordable fully capable, street legal all-electric cars for everyday consumer use. The Wheego line of electric vehicles is emission-free, making them an ideal choice for consumers, fleets and businesses who want to reduce their carbon footprint. Wheego is headquartered inAtlanta,Georgia. The cars are assembled inOntario,California.

For more information about Wheego, visit the company website at www.wheego.net. To inquire about dealership opportunities,email info@wheego.net.

Contact:

Richard Hibbard Auto Center: Jimmy Hibbard, jimmy@richardhibbard.com 909-624-4541

Wheego Electric Cars: Susan Nicholson, susan@wheego.net, 678-904-4795

Wheego Participates in PEV Display at Georgia State Capitol

susan — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:31:15 +0000

January 13, 2012, Atlanta, Georgia

Les Seagraves, Wheego VP-Product Development, represented Wheego Electric Cars in a Plug-in Electric Vehicle display for the Georgia General Assembly’s Committee on Energy, Utility and Telecommunications. The event showcased the latest technology in Plug-In Electric vehicles and charging stations at the Georgia State Capitol building on January 12, 2012.

Fla. dealer bets EVs will go far

susan — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:01:36 +0000

by Alysha Webb for Automotive News, January 9, 2012

Experts doubt year-old venture can survive as electrics-only business

Ana Maria and Richard Nimphie show off a Wheego Whip. Says Richard: "I took a calculated risk that this time EVs were going to be a thing of the future, not just a passing notion."

After his two Lexus dealerships in Florida were sold to AutoNation in 1997, Richard Nimphie stayed for nine years to run them. But he wanted his own business, and one idea kept jumping out at him — electric vehicles. A year ago, Nimphie opened Suncoast Electric Vehicles in St. Petersburg, Fla.

“I took a calculated risk that this time EVs were going to be a thing of the future, not just a passing notion,” he says.

The business model is risky. Suncoast is not tied to an established automaker — instead, it buys EVs from several small producers — and its product portfolio is tiny.

But it fills a need for new companies that lack retail networks. And because it isn’t a franchised dealer, it can sell over a vast area. Still, some experts are wary of its chances for success.

Suncoast offers a handful of EVs: the Wheego Whip low-speed vehicle, the Wheego LiFe, two Vantage commercial vehicles, a golf cart, and electric scooters and bikes. Prices range from $799 for an electric bike to $32,995 for a Wheego LiFe.

In its first year, Suncoast took deposits for 10 Wheego LiFe units and sold four Vantages and “a lot of electric bikes,” Nimphie says.

The store’s future probably will parallel the fortunes of electric-drive vehicles, experts say.

“He is selling electric mobility,” says Rebecca Lindland, director of research at IHS Automotive. “There is an opportunity because of the changes we are starting to see.”

A St. Petersburg, Fla., beauty salon owner uses a Wheego Whip from Suncoast Electric Vehicles to promote her business.

President Obama’s plan to have 1 million alternative-fuel vehicles on the road by 2015 should expand the market for EVs, she says, as could a more environmentally aware younger generation.

Still, the EVs-only business model is a long shot, says Lloyd Schiller, a dealership consultant in West Palm Beach, Fla.

“I would have a hard time making a business case for this,” he says. “Right now, Nissan and Mitsubishi are trying to sell EVs out of traditional dealerships, but I doubt any of their dealers could survive on Leafs and i-MiEVs alone.”

On the other hand, Suncoast can range far afield to find customers. The store has sold several Vantage vans to the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center in Petaluma, Calif., and is talking with several universities, Nimphie says.

Individual buyers in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area include college students, retirees and small-business owners who want to project a green image. One local beauty salon owner wrapped her red Wheego Whip with her shop’s name.

“It is kind of an eye-catcher,” Nimphie says.

Suncoast partners with a local credit union for financing, and sells service contracts, Nimphie says. He takes gasoline-powered cars as trade-in vehicles, reselling the fuel-efficient models and wholesaling the rest. For spare parts, Suncoast has an arrangement with the manufacturers, Nimphie says.

He offers a mobile repair service for buyers in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area.

“That alone sets their mind at ease and puts more credence into EVs,” he says.

Nimphie, 62, went to work for a fleet leasing company straight out of college in 1971. His father-in-law at the time, the late George Ballas, who owned Chrysler and Buick dealerships in Toledo, Ohio, was one of the first Chrysler leasing franchisees in the 1960s. He advised Nimphie to work in the leasing business.

Suncoast Electric Vehicles owner Richard Nimphie figures being an EV-only dealer will give him first shot at new products from EV companies looking to enter the market.

Three years later, the two formed a leasing business, George Ballas Leasing Inc., that grew to seven offices nationwide. Nimphie left Toledo in the early ’90s to become operating partner at Lexus of Tampa Bay and Lexus of Clearwater, both in Florida.

After leaving the Lexus dealerships, Nimphie started Lease South LLC in St. Petersburg with his son, Jonathan. The business leases vehicles and other products, such as computers and medical and construction equipment.

Now Jonathan, 30, works at the EV dealership, as does Richard Nimphie’s wife, Ana Maria.

“All we do is think about EVs and study them,” Richard Nimphie says.

Nimphie, who drives a Wheego Whip as his main car (the family also has a Lexus RX 450h hybrid), is not worried about the store’s future. Suncoast didn’t make any money its first year, but he didn’t expect it to, says Nimphie, who is the sole investor.

He is talking to other EV manufacturers about adding products to his lineup. Nimphie figures being an EV-only dealer will give him first shot at new products from EV companies looking to enter the market.

Says Nimphie: “I can’t even fathom what we will sell in five years in terms of power, range and capability.”

Suncoast Electric Vehicles

Location: St. Petersburg, Fla.
Opened: December 2010
Owner and president: Richard Nimphie
Products: All-electric scooters, bikes, cars, commercial vehicles
First-year sales: 25 units

E-Cars of New England Opens New Showroom in Reading, MA

susan — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:46:15 +0000

Wheego dealer E-Cars of New England will open their new showroom in Reading, MA on January 9th. Visit E-Cars for more details!

To the Caribbean, by All Means

susan — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:59:15 +0000

by Elaine Glusac for the New York Times, November 28, 2011

By air, sea and auto, travelers have new ways to reach and roam the Caribbean this season.

This month American Airlines began nonstop flights to Antigua from Kennedy Airport. Also this month JetBlue began departures to La Romana in the Dominican Republic (Altos de Chavon amphitheater, right) from Kennedy, and starting Dec. 15 will fly to St. Thomas from Logan Airport in Boston. From San Juan, JetBlue will also offer connecting service to St. Thomas and St. Croix beginning Dec. 12.

In the French Caribbean, Jeans ferry started last month, connecting Guadaloupe to Les Saintes, Martinique, Marie-Galante and Dominica, from 25 to 70 euros ($33 to $54) round trip.

On Grand Cayman, a new solar-powered station for electric vehicles recently made its debut, with 11 more to be installed across the Cayman Islands in 2012. By next month, visitors will be able to rent electric Wheego cars from Andy’s Car Rental. Pricing is still to be determined, but recharges will be free.

Wheego Sponsoring Movie Screening in Atlanta Dec 5

susan — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 20:03:21 +0000

Wheego will sponsor a free screening of the movie “Revenge of the Electric Car” in Atlanta on December 5th at the Landmark Midtown Art Cinema.

For more details, visit the event website.

Charged Up About Electric Cars

susan — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:37:10 +0000

by Carley Thornell for the Boston Herald, November 13, 2011

The move to sell electric cars was natural for Dan Enxing, who’s been plugged into the automotive industry for 25 years.

Now he and co-owner John Zaeder are set for a December soft opening of their first freestanding eCars of New England dealership.

AWAY WHEEGO: ECars co-owners John Zaeder, left, and Dan Enxing show off an electric Wheego ‘LiFE’ model in their Reading showroom, which will open next month. Photo by Patrick Whittemore

Enxing and Zaeder are transforming a Reading building blighted by petroleum contaminants into a sparkling new space where they’ll sell fuel-efficient used cars and serve as the state’s only authorized dealer for the two-seat electric cars made by Wheego.

“The first question everybody seems to ask me is, ‘Do you feel safe driving it?’ Absolutely,” said Zaeder, referring to the Wheego. “All you need to do is sit down in one. It has a steel-reinforced frame and weighs almost 3,000 pounds, though it’s small in size.”

Both the Whip, a 35 mph commuter option, and the 70 mph LiFE have the same body style. The former has a 40- to 50-mile travel range before it has to be recharged for eight hours, and the LiFE has a 100-mile range and an eight- to 12-hour charging time, depending upon voltage.

Wheegos’ flexibility in using both 110-volt and 220-volt chargers, their longer range and lower price points compared to other manufacturers’ electric options make them more attractive, said Zaeder. They retail for $19,000 and $32,000 respectively and each has federal tax incentives, but Zaeder touts other advantages, too.

“There’s no tune-ups, there’s no oil changes, none of that maintenance,” he said. “It’s about 3 cents per mile to operate so it’s one-tenth the cost of riding a traditional car.”

There will be plenty of fuel-efficient used models such as the Honda Civic and Toyota Prius hybrids alongside free charging stations at the Reading lot.

Spots to juice up electrics are often a challenge to find, but Zaeder and Enxing, family friends and Andover residents, are working with their town and Reading to install more.

Enxing also plans to offer Tesla’s new four-door electric sedan, a sleek and sporty model retailing for $60,000 that could go a long way to changing people’s perceptions of the electric car. In addition to eCars, he owns Hudson, N.H.-based Subaru of Nashua.

Zaeder said some drivers are attracted to the Wheego because most of its parts, excluding the chassis which is built in China, are made in America and the car is assembled in California. The Atlanta-based company was started by Mike McQuary, the brains behind Internet access provider MindSpring.com.

ECars is set to be fully operational by New Year’s.

-— carley.thornell@bostonherald.com

Wheego LiFe at the Tampa Bay International Auto Show Nov. 18-20, 2011

susan — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:17:19 +0000

Wheego dealer Suncoast EVs will display a Wheego LiFe at the Tampa Bay International Auto Show, November 18-20 in Tampa, Florida.

Hundreds of the latest vehicles will take over the Tampa Convention Center for the 2012-Model Tampa Bay International Auto Show. This exciting automotive event will offer an up-close look at the newest cars, crossovers, trucks, alternative fuel vehicles and more, as well as the chance to get behind the wheel and test drive several hot new rides. From high-end sports cars to interactive family entertainment, the Tampa Bay International Auto Show offers something for everyone.

The show is at the Tampa Convention Center. Suncoast will be in Booth B and C on the 2nd floor.

For hours and directions, visit the show website.