It may not be the luxury Lexuses he used to sell at his former Clearwater and Tampa dealerships, but Richard Nimphie and son, Jonathan, saw an opportunity to market this amazingly small car with perks right here in the Burg. We test drove the LSV (Low Speed Vehicle) model currently available at the dealership where there is also a higher-end "highway" version on the way.

Obviously, the no gas thing is a plus particularly at current costs, but there’s a few other things to point out. The size makes it amazingly easy to parallel park–You can easily fit two in a single space. Unless the A/C is running, the car makes no sound while idle but it does sound a bit like a very small jet engine when accelerating. The combination of the high seat level and "go-cart" style handling also makes it quite fun to drive. The turning radius is super tight and, while we wouldn’t recommend doing it high speeds, it whips around corners with ease. That accompanied by a pretty impressive roll cage and a highly-acclaimed McPherson Strut suspension system means driving along Coffee Pot doesn’t feel like you’re in a horse drawn buggy.

A single charge takes about 6-8 hours on a 110 volt or 3-4 hours on a 240 volt and will last you anywhere from 35-55 miles on the LSV, depending on how you drive it. The same charge will take you about 100 miles on the highway version, which, in addition to reaching speeds of 65 mph, will also have an onboard computer as well as luxury appointments like leather seating.

Finally, many might find it interesting to know that 75% of the car is made right here in the old USofA. Based in Atlanta and built in California, the car is even qualified to be sold to the government.

The LSV model is currently retailing at $22,785 but Suncoast is offering a grand opening special of $19,995 that includes freight, AC and dual-charging mechanism. It also qualifies for a Federal tax credit of 10% of purchase price, capped at $2,500. The highway version will be closer to $35,000 but it qualifies for a $7,500 tax credit.

The Suncoast Electric Vehicle‘s shop is located at 2401 4th St. N.

Taking the Wheego for a ride around Downtown St. Petersburg: from the shop on 4th Street, to the Pier, to the Dali Museum, to the Banyan Coffee & Tea Co. and back.