Closer Look: The Triac 3-Wheeled Electric Car/Bike
The Triac is neither a car nor a motorcycle, but sort of a combination. It’s in the same category as the Aptera and other “technically-motorcycles, but really cars” vehicles, with it’s 3-wheeled design, thin body, and light weight.
These electric vehicles are highway-capable, have a top speed of around 80mph and can go 100 miles (at 45mph) on a single charge. Made by Green Vehicles, the car can charge from a 110v or 220v outlet and has a 5-speed transmission.
The Triac looks like a VW bug (the new ones) from the front and are in a tear-drop shape with a single wheel in the back. They seat two and are designed for the American market and feature a 20kW AC motor and lithium-ion batteries. No price fields are forthcoming as of yet, but supposedly the release date for this could be as early as 2010.
Green Vehicles is also in the final design phase of an electric pickup called the Buckshot. This one will feature the same motor, but a 3-speed transmission with lower gearing to make it a “true work truck.” Little else is available on that EV, but it’s an interest development. Especially to me, since I like my pickups.
This is great news, although it would be nice of Green Vehicles were to give out a little more info so we can compare some specs. The good news about this company is that they’re apparently spending more money and effort on actually building the vehicles than they are on marketing. This is obvious by the fact that their initial press release on the Triac was met with such high feedback and questions that their marketing department was overwhelmed and had to release a new information sheet to try to deal with the overload. Many sites reported an inability to get through via email or on the phone to have questions answered. I personally take that as a good sign.
Green Vehicles has two dealerships currently, one in San Jose, California and a new one in Mill Valley (where they are located). They’ve also got partner dealerships in Salem, Oregon and Escondido, CA. New dealers will be opening in February in Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles, California.
Check out the Triac preview video put together by Green Vehicles:
Tags: 3-wheeled, electric car, Featured, Green Vehicles, triac
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Hmmm, according to the link here: http://www.greenvehicles.com/pop.html they say, “We expect to produce approximately 50 – 100 vehicles per month commencing in September 2008. We expect to ramp up to approximately 200-300 vehicles per month by Q1 of 2009.” which reading through their blog it looks like this got pushed from September to December but I read elsewhere on their site that they would be shipping the first vehicles on December 28th. Is that just outdated info on their site?
I’ve never seen that link before. Their website does say Dec. 28th, 2008, which has past, and so far no press release or information has been forthcoming on whether those vehicles were released.
The information link you point to details a pre-release and test-drive fleet, which so far has also not been forthcoming.
The information I had for this article came from both their website and a press release and short phone conversation (to confirm information) which stated the Triac was not due for consumer purchase until 2010 with only pre-order and road-testing models to be released before then.
The site’s blog http://blog.greenvehicles.com has not been updated since November and, as I stated in the article, Green Vehicles is not easy to get through to for information. I don’t think they planned on their initial press releases to turn into a blitz of publicity like they’ve received.
Bloody hell! When I first glanced at this article, I was hoping that this car was already available. In general, I’m pretty excited about getting some proper green cars, especially from someone other than the major car manufacturers. I was recently dismayed by the news that Aptera is going to redesign their drive train to make it front wheel drive. That’s a major setback to a very cool that I think has a decent shot of gaining some popularity.
The stats on this car look great! 100 miles at 45 mph is nothing to sneeze at. I wish that the company communicated a little better so we at least had an idea what is taking so long.
The concept of an electric truck is one that is gaining a lot of momentum, since EVs have been found to be very suitable as delivery vehicles (Dominoes, UPS, etc.). With success of EVs such as the Xebra Truck, the XL truck, which is a four wheeled vehicle has also been successfully launched.