AltCar 2008: Triac in the metal, deliveries to customers start in December
Click for more shots of the Triac
We heard about the Triac back in April and got more details in May. When we saw the prototype sitting on the floor of the Santa Monica Alt Car Expo floor over the weekend, we knew we needed to stop in and say hello. Ehab Youssef was there to give a rundown of the Triac, an all-electric tadpole-style three-wheeler that can go 80 mph and has a 100-mile range. The Triac uses a 20 kW AC motor and a 160 amp hour lithium battery pack and features full regen braking. The intellectual property - lithium batteries, battery management system, etc. - is engineered in the U.S. and final assembly is in San Jose, but some of the other components come from overseas.
One of the things that Youssef is quick to point out, though, is the Triac's safety features (this is a "motorcycle" in the eyes of the feds, after all, and so escapes a lot of expensive testing). "Safety is one of the primary concerns of any vehicle, and so we went well beyond the Federal motor vehicle safety standards for motorcycles," he said, "and put in all of the safety features that are possible." Some of those features are disc brakes, structural steel cage, side impact bracing.
So far, Youssef said, "several vehicles" have been reserved and Youssef's company, Green Vehicles, will start delivering the Triac to customers in December (a little later than expected). Youssef explained that the base price of $23,000 is the lowest you can find today for a highway-speed electric vehicle, and many customers are choosing to go with some of the many upgrades.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
BioD 12:38PM (9/29/2008)
I saw this vehicle at the show, the quality is exceptional, it looks great and I believe this is the vehicle is practical vs. the Aptera that is not. In person it is much like a Smart face to face and then a sleek extended rear drive assembly. I look forward to test driving a production model. Really good job whoever was involved.
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Killroy 1:39PM (9/29/2008)
I saw a full prototype at Palo Alto EV Rally and it was nice. I like the the small tadpole configuration and the $20K-somthing MRSP.
I dont see how this is any more practical than a Aptera. And I think in the long run the Aptera will be a better value because of its storage space, style, efficiency, and features.
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meme 1:09PM (9/29/2008)
I still call BS. Their numbers don't add up, as with some of their business practices. They're run out of Youseff's day job's office. Their "Buckshot" is clearly little more than cosmetic plating on a Trifun 1/4 Ton, yet Trifun claims absolutely no relationship with them.
http://www.greenvehicles.com/specs/buckshot_single.jpg
http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/resources/2008/03/Trifun_Quarter_Ton.jpg
I wouldn't touch them with a 10 foot pole, personally.
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s 1:21PM (9/29/2008)
"vs. the Aptera that is not" (practical). You have experience with the aptera? Clearly you do not.
S
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brn 1:22PM (9/29/2008)
"we went well beyond the Federal motor vehicle safety standards for motorcycles"
If you don't, you won't pass.
So this thing is as safe as a motorcycle? Yippie. How safe is it for a car?
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Chris M 1:43PM (9/29/2008)
Certainly a lot safer than a motorcycle, but probably not as safe as most cars. Of course, there are some 4 wheel cars with lousy safety ratings...
amg 2:49PM (9/29/2008)
Anyone at Autobloggreen going to try to get a test drive? I'd love to hear more, but I am also somewhat dubious of the claims. It is quite a bit cheaper than the NmG, at least the last time i checked Myers Motors prices.
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TIMMAH! 6:16PM (9/29/2008)
I'll believe it once they start shipping and people have had a chance to own them without returning them with oodles of problems (a'la Zap!)
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