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Wheego Technologies

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(Redirected from Wheego Electric Cars)
Autonomous Fusion, Inc.
Formerly
  • Wheego Electric Cars
  • Wheego Technologies
Company typePrivate
IndustryAutonomous vehicle software
FoundedJune 2009; 15 years ago (2009-06)
HeadquartersAtlanta, Georgia
Key people
Mike McQuary (CEO)
Products

Autonomous Fusion is an American autonomous vehicle company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The company develops vehicle technologies including software, systems, tools for autonomous vehicles and self-driving cars, artificial intelligence/machine learning, and IoT connected devices for the home, business and roadway. The company is led by CEO Mike McQuary.

Autonomous Fusion began as an electric car company Wheego Electric Cars in June 2009 as a spin-out from Rough and Tuff Electric Vehicles (RTEV), a manufacturer of battery-powered recreational electric vehicles, producing two models: the Wheego Whip and Wheego LiFe. Wheego turned to mainly developing tools and systems for autonomous vehicles in 2015, and the company name was changed to Wheego Technologies in 2016 before adopting its current name in 2018.[1] Autonomous Fusion has offices in Atlanta and Sonoma, California.

Autonomous Fusion logo as Wheego Technologies from 2016 to 2018.

Products

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Wheego Whip

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Wheego Electric Cars' first automobile was the Whip, a two-seat compact car that was launched in the United States in August 2009, in partnership with Shuanghuan Auto.[2] The car is based on the Shuanghuan Noble platform manufactured by Shuanghuan in China, with final assembly, including the motor, drive train, controller, electronic components and programming, completed in the United States. It was marketed exclusively by Wheego in North America, Japan and the Caribbean as a low-speed vehicle (maximum speed of 25 mph (40 km/h)) or medium-speed vehicle (35 mph (56 km/h)) depending on local state regulations.

Wheego LiFe

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The LiFe, a highway-capable version with a lithium iron phosphate battery pack, began selling in April 2011 and ceased production in 2013.[3][4] The LiFe, similar to the Whip, was a small-sized car sourced from China fitted with an electric drivetrain and batteries installed in California. It is driven by a 60 horsepower electric synchronous induction motor attached to a 60 kilowatt-hour lithium battery pack. Priced at $32,995, it was marketed as a commuter car.[5] It became the third all-electric highway speed street legal car for sale in the United States after the Tesla Roadster and the Nissan Leaf. It is electronically limited to 65 mph (105 km/h), and has an advertised range of approximately 100 miles on a single charge.[6] The LiFe can be recharged using either a standard 120V connection or an industry-standard Level 2 Charging Station.

References

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  1. ^ Autonomous Fusion, Inc (2018-03-30). "Wheego Technologies Changes Name to Autonomous Fusion" (Press release). Atlanta – via PRWeb.
  2. ^ "RTEV and Shuanghuan Automobile Form EV Partnership". Green Car Congress. 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
  3. ^ Blanco, Sebastian (2011-12-17). "Wheego delivers first LiFe vehicle in time for Earth Day". AutoblogGreen. Retrieved 2011-01-21.
  4. ^ LeSage, Jon (2016-10-24). "Wheego Now Autonomous Electric Tech Company, Not An Automaker Archived 2021-03-01 at the Wayback Machine". HybridCARS.
  5. ^ Jim Motavalli (2012-03-14). "Can The Tiny Wheego Win The Electric Car Race?". Forbes. Retrieved 2012-03-22.
  6. ^ Serafim (2012-09-28). "2011 Wheego LiFe". TopSpeed. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
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