(Credit:
Wheego Wheels )
The Wheego Whip, another Neighborhood Electric Vehicle, is expected to hit the streets in May, according to Engadget. That is, if Wheego Wheels can find dealers to sell these low-speed, souped-up golf carts. (I'm not just being mean; company founder Mike McQuary purchased a golf cart company and used its product as a base for the Whip).
Wheego, a division of Ruff & Tuff Electric Vehicles (seriously, that's the parent company name), is taking applications to form a network of 50 dealers. That's a strong goal in a weak economy for a new car that has limited use and range, and not much of a marketing plan.
... Read More
(Credit:
SkyMall)
Let's say you want to impress your golfing buddies but are afraid of accidentally doing bodily harm to them with a mini-Hummer. There's another way to state your machismo, with the "Berline Cadillac Escalade Golf Cart."
It's actually a little cheaper than the Hummer too--if $13,995 can be called cheap at any juncture, that is, for a golf cart. That buys you "a hand-laid fiberglass body, marine-grade vinyl seats, custom paint and chrome mirrors," according to Uncrate, though a custom hard top will cost more.
The Escalade cart is electric despite its SUV appearance, so it's a fair compromise without going the full solar-powered route. And you won't make a complete fool of yourself tooling around in one, as long as you stay on the golf course.
Venturi, a French company that bills itself as "The Carbon Neutral Company," has a new electric vehicle that can also be powered by nature.
Whenever I see cars like this, my first thought is always...OK, how fast does it go? Politics aside, no one wants to be the guy in the Trabant.
The Eclectic
(Credit: Venturi)The answer for the Venturi Eclectic is not that fast, but not that bad for what it is. It tops out at 31 mph.
As with the Tamarack Lake Engine Company's solar-electric pontoon boat, recreational vehicles like these seem to be more about making the owner feel guilt-free and less about speed.
As the vehicle's name suggests, the NiMH (NIV-7) batteries (liquid cooled) can be recharged by an eclectic array of sources: solar, wind and electricity. One full recharge via electricity takes five hours, so make sure there's a free outlet in the garage.
Photovoltaic cells on the Eclectic's roof take in the solar power, while a wind turbine attached to the vehicle captures wind power. The wind turbine can contribute up to 9 miles of driving distance per day--if it's windy, according to Venturi. The solar panels can contribute up to 4.4 miles.
(Credit:
Lussorian)
Once you've reached your golden years, that's no reason to put all your toys away--you just may have to find other ways to show them off. So while the gold-plated Hummer may have to stay in the garage a little more often than it used to, you can still get your bling on at age-appropriate venues. Such as the golf course.
The H2 Hummer golf cart comes with a chrome grille, alloy wheels, custom stereo and cooler boxes to keep your Metamucil chilled. If you choke on the $38,000 price tag, Lussorian says there's a much more affordable alternative: A Tonino Lamborghini for just $11,500.
But frankly, that model looks like a regular old golf cart to us. Which just goes to show that you get what you pay for.
If you're an 80-year-old resident of a retirement village who has a need for more than school-zone speed, Cruise Car has got the wheels for you.
The Sarasota, Florida-based company is showing off its line of solar-powered golf carts this week at Solar Power 2006 in San Jose, Calif. The top-of-the-line Cruise Car can reach 65 m.p.h., considerably faster than the average golf cart, for a cool $7,000. Or you can just get the solar panel, which sits on its roof, for $1,500.
"They are street legal in 35-mile-an-hour zones," says sales director Thomas McCoy, sounding more like a Ferrari dealer. The company has sold some in Sun City, Arizona, and other golf-retirement communities in Florida.
Imagine if Bruce Springsteen had owned one of these while he was writing "Darkness on the Edge of Town" it would have been a completely different album.
(Photo: Cruise Car)
- prev
- 1
- next
