have the money for a Tesla or Mini-E, the time to
wait for a Mitsubishi iMiEV or the smarts to build
your own, the guys at Ruff & Tuff Electric Vehicles
may have just the ticket an electric car that looks
a lot like a Smart and costs $19,000.Ruff & Tuff has
teamed up with China's Shuanghuan Automobile
Company to bring the little EV to America as early
as next spring. The two companies hope to break
into the budding market for EVs that are (relatively)
inexpensive, safe and cool enough for urban
environs.
The way they see it, the time is right to bring an
affordable EV to the masses."There is a perfect
storm of macro-events that are causing people
around the world to take inventory of their
personal habits and their effect on the environment
and RTEV is entering the marketplace at this pivotal
time," says company CEO Mike McQuary.
Although the Wheego Whip is capable of 60 mph,
it'll be restricted to neighborhood electric vehicle
status and limited to 25 or 35 mph, depending upon
the state, until the feds sign off on its
crash worthiness. That isn't expected until 2010,
by which time several cities will have some serious
EV infrastructure in place.
The Whip, which will be called the E-Noble
everywhere else, is made in China and based
on the gas powered Noble that Shuanghuan
already builds. Once the cars arrive in America,
Ruff & Tuff will do the final assembly,fine
tune the drivetrain and program the controller.
everywhere else, is made in China and based
on the gas powered Noble that Shuanghuan
already builds. Once the cars arrive in America,
Ruff & Tuff will do the final assembly,fine
tune the drivetrain and program the controller.
No one involved in the venture provided much
in the way of details about the Whip beyond
saying it will use AMG dry cell batteries that
provide a range of 50 miles.
This partnership wants consumers to see
in the way of details about the Whip beyond
saying it will use AMG dry cell batteries that
provide a range of 50 miles.
This partnership wants consumers to see
EVs as more than golf carts or toys for the
rich.They want you to drive your Wheego
Whip to work."The long-held assumption
has been that electric vehicles are quirky
and impractical for everyday use, and are
of interest to only a small group of eco
friendly consumers,” McQuary said.
Their plan may be just ambitious enough
to work.
rich.They want you to drive your Wheego
Whip to work."The long-held assumption
has been that electric vehicles are quirky
and impractical for everyday use, and are
of interest to only a small group of eco
friendly consumers,” McQuary said.
Their plan may be just ambitious enough
to work.
Photos by Ruff and Tough Electric Vehicles.
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