Driving an $18,000 EV That TalksEd Loh - MotorTrend"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."Last month, we went to the launch party for a different kind of vehicle, specifically an electric-powered, low-speed vehicle (LSV) from a new startup called Chip. Although we were initially skeptical of its cutesy face and cartoony proportions, we came away impressed enough with the concept that we invited Jameson Detwiler, the founder and CEO of Chip, to come on our podcast and discuss what makes his vehicle special.As you'll find in our discussion, the LSV space is already well-defined, and what Chip brings to the table isn't anything earth-shattering when it comes to the basics. There are many 4- and 6-seat electric LSVs on the market priced between $12,000 and $20,000, built for slow-moving beachy lifestyles and gated communities and designed to serve as a second or third around-town vehicle.AdvertisementAdvertisementBut as you'll hear from Jameson, what is unique about Chip's approach is that it's rooted in the future we keep hearing about; that the advent of all-electric, autonomous vehicles (full-size cars and trucks, not LSVs) will fundamentally alter transportation as we know it. Autonomy will change how we'll park them (if we even park them at all) and challenge the traditional notion of car ownership.Watch the full episode:Remote Driving Before AutonomyA good chunk of our chat revolved around ChipGo, a remote driving service that Jameson claims will roll out when the first consumer vehicles are delivered in Chip's launch city of Miami. What does remote driving mean? Exactly what it sounds like: A remote human operator could be hailed to drive your Chip to a parking lot and/or back to you when you need it. Drones, delivery robots, and unmanned autonomous vehicles (UAVs) of all kinds currently operate this way, with varying levels of artificial intelligence (AI) assisting the piloting duties. Of course, the future of AVs seems to be predicated on AI taking over all driving duties, which is not only a hugely disruptive concept, but part of the reason for Chip's cute face.About that Cute FaceIn December of 2025, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) put forward J3134, a new standard that recommended automated driving indicator lamps, specifying that blue-green lights on vehicles would illuminate when they're being operated in autonomous driving mode. The rationale is interesting: "... the initial justification was to make the road user comfortable when a driver is not present."Ed Loh - MotorTrendKnow what might make people feel even more comfortable when they see a six-passenger golf cart with no driver coming at them at 20 mph? According to Jameson, the crooked, pixelated smile on Chip's face. Apparently, Chip's ability to talk and emote (via the remote driver, for now) isn't just for showing off at the local block party, but also during critical driving situations like crowded four-way stops, when hand gestures and facial expressions would normally be used to communicate with fellow drivers.AdvertisementAdvertisementIntrigued? Listen to Jameson talk through the thinking in more detail on the 'pod.Prototype SpinAfter our chat, Jonny and I got a chance to drive Chip for a couple of laps in the parking lot of our podcast studio. Per Jameson, we're the first media to drive his baby, which is just the kind of exclusive we love.Shortly after this photo was taken, Jonny launched Chip over a speed bump.Ed Loh - MotorTrendWe drove a hand-built Chip prototype, and we got to meet Emmanuel, the guy who apparently did most of the work bolting it together. Emmanuel also acts as Chip's remote driver for demos of ChipGo. He can interact with people on the street who see Chip's face and ask it questions. All of that is done through a camera and microphone on the vehicle, wirelessly connected to Emmanuel. He controls the car via a video game–style controller and talks to people via headset and mic. We got a very brief demo of Emmanuel's ability to take over the car and drive it around while chatting with us in real time.Then it was our turn to drive, and Jonny went first. Chip is very much a prototype and a few things are still being worked out, so we took it nice and easy. The seats are flat, larger, and more supportive than you'd find in most golf carts, and the three-point belts are a reassuring touch. Chip drives as you'd expect, with instant EV accelerator response and a tall, golf cart feel. Although it has a top speed of just 20 mph, the lack of doors helps make it feel a bit quicker. With no roof, and a wide, flat windshield, visibility is excellent. We were promised more time behind the wheel once production units are available, so let us know if you think we should ask for a long-term loaner to evaluate.Ed Loh - MotorTrendCheck out Chip and Jameson right here or on our YouTube channel. You can also download the podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts. If you like what you hear, please tell your friends, share us on social media, and don't forget to give us a five-star review. Thanks.
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