2011 Wheego Whip LiFe at 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show

2011 Wheego Whip LiFe at 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show

In the electric car realm there are many players, a lot of them small. So if we asked you if you had heard of a Wheego, you wouldn’t be alone if your answer was no. That is the fun of auto shows and in the Rocky Mountain region, the 2011 Denver Auto Show is living up to the reputation of bringing the latest models on-sale, but also the latest technology to the show floor for consumers to see.

2011 Wheego Whip LiFe at 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show

2011 Wheego Whip LiFe at 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show

2011 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive

2011 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive

For Colorado residents green technology is important, perhaps it is the Rocky Mountains right out our backdoor or maybe it is the fact that cities like Boulder and Golden are home to environmental studies and agencies. Boulder even has a Tesla dealer downtown on Pearl Street. Getting back to the Wheego, the all-electric vehicle is a less well known, but very capable city vehicle that competes directly with the Smart ForTwo Electric—a car we haven’t seen in the Rocky Mountain region yet.

What is the Wheego? It is an Atlanta-based electric car company that made its debut to consumers in the U.S. back in 2009 with the Whip two-seater electric. The Whip was considered a short-distance, low-powered electric that would be right at home in a busy urban environment. Sales were only about 300 units last year for the Whip, but the company expects higher volumes and more success with the LiFe two-seater. The LiFe is a highway-ready and crash-tested vehicle that achieves 100 miles on a full charge—the number that is quickly becoming the standard range among electric car offerings. It will even recharge from 50% to 100% in about 5 hours on a 220V/240V outlet.

As we said, a direct Smart ForTwo Electric competitor (check out the picture comparison) that is American-made and costs right about $33K before any tax incentives. Sound intriguing for your commute to work in the Denver Metro Area? What about around Boulder, Ft. Collins or Colorado Springs? Heck, even if you are in town for the weekend and haven’t seen this and the other electric vehicles on display, then you should head over to the 2011 Denver Auto Show at the downtown convention center and see them in person. You can even drive some of them as part of the Manufacturer Ride and Drive program starting this Friday, April 1st.

 

Be sure to stay tuned right here to AllSmallCars.com for more news and reviews from the 2011 Denver Auto Show—including our spin around downtown in a 2011 Chevrolet Volt.

 

Follow us on Twitter via our handle @allsmallcars.

 

[Source: Wheego and Atlanta Journal-Constitution]