The diminutive Wheego Whip is a collaboration between RTEV (Ruff & Tuff Electric Vehicles) and China's Shuanghuan Automobile looks suspiciously like a Smart car, but isn't priced like one. This electric vehicle will cost $19,000 when it hits the U.S. in May 2009.
The RTEV Wheego Whip is based upon the Shuanghuan Noble body that is popular in China; for that reason, the RTEV Wheego Whip is also known outside the U.S. as the E-Noble. Although it can reach speeds of 60 MPH, it's likely that the microcar will be limited to Neighborhood Electric Vehicle status until its crashworthiness is proven.
The RTEV Wheego Whip can go 50 miles between charges. While the bulk of the microcar will be made in China, each car's final assembly will take place in the United States.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Affordable Electric Vehicles
- The trend of producing low-priced electric vehicles with impressive mileage capacity will disrupt the traditional automotive industry.
- Micro Electric Vehicles
- The trend of manufacturing smaller-sized electric vehicles, like the Wheego Whip, provides an opportunity for new players to enter the EV market.
- Foreign Collaboration
- The trend of foreign companies collaborating to bring affordable electric vehicles to new markets will disrupt the traditional automotive industry.
Where This Applies
- Electric Vehicle Manufacturing
- The electric vehicle manufacturing industry will benefit as the trend towards affordable, small-sized electric vehicles continues.
- Automotive Manufacturing
- Automotive manufacturers will need to adapt to disruptive trends in the industry as smaller, cheaper electric vehicles become increasingly popular.
- Foreign Trade
- Foreign trade industries will be impacted by the trend of foreign collaborations to bring affordable electric vehicles to new markets.
