We have discussed the Shuanghuan Noble several times on this website. The Noble was a Smart-inspired mini car that got Shuanghuan in all sorts of legal trouble internationally, but in China it sold rather well. The Noble debuted in 2007 and was available with 0.8 and 1.1 liter petrol engine. But in 2010, Shuanghuan also unveiled an electric version of the Noble on a car show in Beijing.
It was called a concept and it was painted in ‘green’ green and it stood on a green circle. There were also leaves painted on the sides for even more green credentials. The decals were cool too: “New energy new power new concept” and “electric car”.
Dashboard had the same design as the patrol version but the fancy digital instrument binnacle was new for the EV.
The Noble EV was developed in cooperation with US company Ruff & Tuff Electric Vehicles. For a short while, the EV version was sold in the US as the Wheego Whip, later renamed Wheego LiFe.
New lever for PNR selection.
The Noble EV was powered by a 60 hp electric motor mated to a 30 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery. At the show, Shuanghuan claimed a 130 kilometer range but in the US the Wheego Whip had a claimed range of 160 kilometers. Shuanghuan also calculated an operating cost of 9 yuan per 100 kilometers. About the battery, the company said: “If you run 100 kilometers in two days, you can run for about four years.”
The rear had a nice ‘all electric’ badge. Naturally, the exhaust pipe was removed but Shuanghuan didn’t bother to design a new mid-bumper section, so you can still see the gap where the pipe used to be.
Sadly, in China, the Noble EV never made it to the market. Too bad, as an electric mini car seemed a very good idea, even then, to get around easily in China’s big cities.