Wheego to Deliver First Electric Car in Atlanta on Earth Day

Atlanta-headquartered Wheego, manufacturer of all-electric cars, today announced it will deliver the first Wheego LiFe, a highway-speed 100% electric car, on Earth Day- April 22, 2011.

This is big news for the innovative elecric car maker. The first owners of a Wheego LiFe will be Asma and Kevin Henry, residents of the Virginia Highland neighborhood in Atlanta. Jimmy Ellis, VP and COO of Jim Ellis Automotive Dealerships, will present the Henrys with their car at the Jim Ellis dealership at 5855 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, at 10:30a.m.on April 22nd.

Kevin says buying a Wheego LiFe was his wife’s idea. Asma, a freelance consultant in international assistance programs, is committed to protecting the environment and reducing fossil fuel consumption. She walks and bikes to neighborhood shops, prefers fresh air to conditioned air, and dries laundry in the back garden. She has more than a casual interest in zero-emission vehicles and clean air because she helps manage the charity Speranta Terrei, which supports patients in Moldova with the air-borne disease tuberculosis. Asma said, "We as individuals have to do our part so we can all breathe easier."

Wheego couldn't be more pleased. "We are very proud of this car and the American spirit that it represents," said Mike McQuary, CEO of Wheego Electric Cars. "The delivery of our first Wheego LiFe electric car culminates four years of research and development, and is perfectly timed to support President Obama’s Energy Plan. President Obama will direct Federal agencies to buy 100 percent alternative fuel vehicles by 2015, and is asking for a major increase in fuel economy for 2017-2025 model year automobiles. The Wheego LiFe is ready to help meet that demand: it is affordable, all-electric, and available across the country now."

The Wheego LiFe travels approximately 100 miles on a single charge and retails for $32,995. It qualifies for a $7,500 Federal tax credit, as well as many state incentives such as tax credits (up to $5,000 in Georgia) and HOV lane access. The Wheego LiFe comes fully-equipped with driver and passenger airbags, anti-lock brakes, power windows and locks, and optional air conditioning. The 115V lithium battery pack can be charged from a standard 120V outlet, a 240V outlet or any of the J1772 standard charging stations being installed in public locations throughout the United States. It is available in red, white, blue, black, silver, and green. The Wheego LiFe is a two-seat subcompact car with fit, finish and features designed for today’s environmentally-conscious commuters.

Georgia Aquarium: AT&T's Dolphin Tales Opens With a Splash

My wife and I attended the invitation only preview of AT&T Dolphin Tales tonight at the Georgia Aquarium. I'll put a full review up on Examiner.com and Yahoo hopefully tomorrow. Here are some sneak peek pics:

New Year's Eve "Drops"

New Year's Eve.  A time to reflect on the year that passed and to make those resolutions for the next one. 

It's also a time for cities across the country to copy New York City and have a "drop" of some type to ring in the beginning of the new year.

We all know about New York City dropping the crystal ball, and here in Atlanta they of course drop a giant peach.  Now take a gander at what some other cities across the good ole USA are dropping.

Fayetteville, AR - A hog

Key West, FL - A conch shell

Miami and Orlando, FL - An orange

Eastport, Maine - A sardine

Raleigh, NC - An acorn

Beavertown, PA - A beaver, of course

Hershey, PA - A giant Hershey Kiss

Nashville, TN - A guitar

Plymouth, WI - An 80-pound decorated cheese wedge

Mobile, AL - A giant electric Moon Pie is raised

and Panama Ciy, FL - A giant beach ball

Update on Friday, December 31, 2010 at 8:23PM by Rick C.Limpert

How's this for cool.  A reader sent me a picture of the cheese drop from 2010 in Plymouth, WI.

Zombies Take Over New York During Rush Hour

As if a normal New York City rush hour isn't enough, add some wandering zombies to the equation, and you have a morning to remember.

Dozens of actors dressed as the living dead hit The Big Apple as a promotion for AMC's new series, 'Walking Dead.'

Some zombies hit Times Square — while another group worked their way across the Brooklyn Bridge, much to the delight/horror/indifference/dismay of people on their way to work. 

This was all part of an international campaign in 26 cities to promote AMC's new original series, "Walking Dead." Taipei, Hong Kong, Buenos Aires and Los Angeles were among the other cities targeted by the flesh-eating monsters. 

 

For those not familiar with this new show, it's based on a series of comic books by Robert Kirkman. In a nutshell, the story revolves around a small town sheriff who gets shot, loses consciousness, and when he wakes, learns that the dead have returned to life and his family is missing.

 

The show was is filmed in and around the Atlanta area.

Southwest Buying AirTran, Coming to Atlanta

Many Atlanta travelers are thrilled that Southwest Airlines will soon be coming to Atlanta.  They are buying AirTran Airways for $1.4 billion, and hopefully bringing lower costs with them.

Southwest said the deal includes “significant opportunities to and from Atlanta, the busiest airport in the U.S. and the largest domestic market we do not serve.”

Southwest’s service in Atlanta can potentially stimulate more than 2 million new passengers and more than $200 million in consumer savings annually, Southwest said, citing an economic analysis by Campbell-Hill Aviation Group LLP.

AirTran chief executive Bob Fornaro said in a written statement that the deal with Southwest will give AirTran opportunities to grow “both professionally as individuals and as a group, in ways that simply would not be possible without this agreement.”

Under the deal, AirTran and Southwest would operate as independent companies until the deal closes, then Fornaro would continue work on the integration of the two companies.  But I have to believe it will all become Southwest sooner than later.

AirTran has 2,500 employees based in Atlanta. Southwest currently does not fly out of Atlanta.

Southwest and AirTran said the new airline will operate from more than 100 airports and serve more than 100 million customers.