A TTAC Reader Writes: Wango-Tango: Ebay Digs Our Electric Cars!

by Robert Farago

October 25th, 2008 5:29 PM

a ttac reader writes wango tango ebay digs our electric cars

We don’t print blog entries from anonymous sources. Unless we do. I received this email this AM and thought it was worth sharing with the group. I’ve contacted the author for his Christian (Muslim, whatever) name. It looks like we may have another TTAC blogger in the pipeline. Which is a lot less painful than it sounds. At least for me… “Alright, so I’m a dinosaur that reads print media…I find it’s easier to wipe Toaster Strudel grease off on a paper than my keyboard. Anyway, this morning I happened upon a local-yocal feel good story about a Spokane, WA company building electric cars. Now, as you will see, the cars look like the result of a Club Car & Yugo late-night hook-up. However, I was struck by two very odd things: First, the Tango is apparently very popular w/Ebay schmucks, Microsofties & even George Clooney (he’s so freakin’ dreamy) and second, it sells for the same price as a Tesla (well, if Tesla sold sold cars). Could it be that a Spokane car company is a trend setter?

I mean, I live here and when I see ”Spokane car company,” I think wagon wheels or perhaps a high-performance combine. But alas, this is what they are claiming about performance: ”With over 1,000 ft-lbs. of torque, the Tango can accelerate from zero to over 130 mph in one gear. Without needing an energy-robbing transmission or differential, it accelerates from zero to 60 mph in about 4 seconds and finishes the standing 1/4 mile in about 12 seconds at over 100 mph.” Anyway, here’s the link, if you are interested. And their website. NOTE: I’m not schlubbing for them or anything. I just think it’s a bit funny that this boxy-golf cart thing, which you can actually buy, performs sort of on par w/the ultra-hyped Tesla (something you can’t actually buy). Needless to say, I\’m having a bout civic pride this morning; well okay, maybe it’s just gas.

Sincerely,

S. Hagar (w/a touch of Lee Greenwood)”

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2 of 4 comments

Wave54 on Oct 26, 2008

This might be worth looking at when the price comes down to $15-20K (with less performance). For $108K and a much shorter driving range than the Tesla, I would pass on this. Watch the following video -- is it just me or is there an infernal howl at 55 seconds and at 1 min. 28 seconds? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En6nWUsiy-Y&feature=related Looks and sounds like an enclosed fork-lift.

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Shaker on Oct 26, 2008

Unfortunately, the car is married to lead-acid battery technology, as "ballast". An "upgrade" to LiIon would probably require that they add dead weight to the chassis to keep it from flipping over. So, the design is pretty much a dead end unless they go to a 'leaning' design to alter the COG. If I had 105k to spend on the car, I'd spend an extra few k to have the car painted with 'accordion pleats' on the body to make it appear that it was removed from the crusher just in time...

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