Bio: Mike McQuary

WHO

CEO of Ruff & Tuff Electric Vehicles (RTEV)

AGE

49

WHERE

Winnsboro, S.C.

EMPLOYEES

34

REVENUE

$11 million

NEED FOR SPEED

In May of 2009 RTEV will start selling its first electric car for street use, the $19,000 Wheego Whip. The Whip will have an electronic control that keeps it from being driven at high speeds—the max in most states will be 25 mph. McQuary is raising money to do the crash testing and to develop air bags that will let the Whip be driven at up to 60 mph.

THE RACE IS ON

RTEV competes against start-ups like Zenn Motor (ZNN) and Miles Electric Vehicles as well as Nissan (NSANY), General Motors (GM), and Toyota (TM).

THE CAR BUG

McQuary's father was a onetime mechanic and car fanatic, but McQuary himself wasn't car crazy—until he took over RTEV. Says McQuary: "I've been surprised how intoxicated I've gotten with the design of the car."

Return to the BW SmallBiz Feb/March 2009 Table of Contents