Wanna Wheego?

Anyone in the market for an electric car that can seat two passengers comfortably and get up to 100 miles on a single charge won't have to burn too much gas to find one now.

Suncoast Electric Vehicles in St. Petersburg has signed on as the Gulf Coast's exclusive dealership for the Wheego, a four-wheel ride with a 115-volt lithium battery that can be juiced up from a standard 120-volt outlet (or one with 240 volts where available). Grand opening events are planned for Jan. 20-24, including test drives.

Richard Nimphie, owner of the local dealership and a longtime vehicle sales and leasing veteran, says he expects the Wheego to be well received by the environmentally conscious Tampa Bay region.

“This area has a rich automotive history,” Nimphie tells Coffee Talk, noting that the dealership's location at 2401 Fourth St. N. was once part of St. Petersburg's “auto mall” back in the 1920s and '30s.

Wheego's two-seat Whip and LiFe models will be available initially, with rollouts of a planned five-seat model and light truck planned later this year, he says. Pricing for the vehicles is posted at $32,995, but it qualifies for a $7,500 federal tax credit plus state tax incentives.

Atlanta-based Wheego, launched by former MindSpring entrepreneur Mike McQuary, has two Florida dealerships among 20 nationwide. The low-speed cars are available in five different colors and include standard safety features such as air bags and anti-lock brakes, plus optional air conditioning.