Triac: the highway-capable, three-wheeled electric car available now?

Our siblings over at AutoblogGreen discovered a little video hinting that a new three-wheeled, 70MPH electric car called the Triac is available... now. While we wait for the Aptera to hit the road, it seems Green Vehicles went ahead and made the Triac, tested it, and got it all sorts of market-ready. For those who don't know, the Triac is highway capable and will go 120 miles before needing a recharge. Video after the break.

[Mog @ Apr 28th 2008 6:38AM]

It looks like an uglier smart fortwo.

[Byzil Mystwing @ Apr 28th 2008 6:39AM]

is it just me or is the car in the video completely different from the one discussed in the article? :x

[Wwhat @ Apr 28th 2008 6:43AM]

Yeah they goofed, they probably meant this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_q3D0qp0So

[Baz @ Apr 28th 2008 8:27AM]

Yeah, they did.

Indeed, the original video seems to show an uglier version of the smart fortwo (or the Mitsubishi 'i'), but what's with the 3-wheel version?

Back To The Future, revisiting European cars from the 50s with a third headlight and the 3-wheeled 'bubblecars' as produced by BMW and Isetta - only electric.

Not everyone will like the design of either of these cars and certainly not everyone can afford a Tesla (once they actually start building them for retail - see: auto vapourware), but there are companies like ZENN and Think! who have not-totally unattractive electric cars on the market now.

[Wwhat @ Apr 28th 2008 7:15PM]

Perhaps the elderly and handicapped might put it on their list if their current electric cart needs replacing.

[OVerclockerX @ Apr 28th 2008 7:06AM]

And we EV enthaius wonder why Electric Cars arn't taken seriously. I mean this has really good range per charge but do they have to look so wacky.

Tesla is out there taking the fight, if only they could roll the Roadsters out faster

[LarryLarryLarry @ Apr 28th 2008 7:07AM]

Would it really be so hard to make it 2 feet wider and add another wheel? This design looks like someone was trying to build a car while complying with motorcycle safety requirements.

A $20,000 electric trike with a roof. Um. No thanks. I prefer to be on a true motorcycle when I tip over. It can be electric, though.

[Twitchy @ Apr 28th 2008 7:28AM]

Three wheels equals less friction.

But don't take it the wrong way - I'm with you on the ridiculous part. And on the electric motorbike. Something decent to replace a smoky 50cc, without looking like I'm squatting on a toilet with handlebars.

[Chris Taylor @ Apr 28th 2008 3:50PM]

No Three wheels means MOTORCYCLE classification which means MILLIONS if not BILLIONS cheaper to produce

IE the safety requirements for motocycles are basically non existance compared to cars. THATS why they are either 3 wheeled OR NEV's

Once you go "car class" its far too expensive.

Alas while I LOVE this triac (I happen to love how it looks) its still about TWICE too expensive.

Its just not going to work till they can do it for under $10k :-(

Unless off course they ca get 400-500 miles range then $20-$30k can work since it CAN then be used as a primary vehicle.

all I need is 70miles and I can replace 95% of my gas usage per year. The car would be FREE in 3 years if it were $10k just in gas savings.

[MBN @ Apr 28th 2008 6:53PM]

"Toilet with handlebars." I love it. Such a great description of so many scooters out there.

[Guimo @ Apr 28th 2008 7:39AM]

Why do electric cars always need to be ugly? And what's wrong with four wheels?

[John Stracke @ Apr 28th 2008 9:17AM]

In the US, safety regulations assume that a cars have four wheels. A three-wheeled car gets treated as a motorcycle, which means it doesn't have to have, e.g., airbags, which saves weight. Not lives, but weight.

[Topslakr @ Apr 28th 2008 8:09AM]

No way am I getting into that. I've seen Mr. Bean. I know what happens to the guy with three wheels. He is always driven off the road into a ditch.. not worth it!

[Bryan Jackson @ Apr 28th 2008 8:12AM]

Futurama nails it again:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9e/Futurama_ep64.jpg

[AutoTom @ Apr 28th 2008 8:13AM]

'triac' sounds french.. i dont want to go 70mph in anything made by the french

[Idlemind @ Apr 28th 2008 9:13AM]

Remember the Renault, "Le Car" ?

The first thing to break was "Le Transmission"

[George @ May 1st 2008 12:11AM]

It's not French. Read the story, then comment. Merci beaucoup.

[j @ Apr 28th 2008 2:53PM]

Actually it sounds electrical....

A Triac is a type of SCR that are used in motor drives.

[chadow @ Apr 28th 2008 8:19AM]

I, for one, am happy about this. Until Miles Auto releases the electric car they are working on, or Tesla gets something affordable out, there arent many choices. Great to see another one. don't mind its looks.

I have been looking at electric motorcycles and bikes, but in Michigan that isn't practice for my commute. I work 48 on/72 off so I need to be able to carry clothes and food as well. This thing fits the bill.

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Apr 28th 2008 9:09AM]

BOYCOTT GAS on May 15th to the 20th of 2008. Thats is what is happening here in some parts of Canada, peep the link:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=13013842748

[Chad @ Apr 28th 2008 9:23AM]

waste of time

[Farris @ Apr 28th 2008 11:43AM]

People don't realize that if they can organize a million people to boycott gas for one week (highly unlikely), the (what, like 5, 6?) gas companies can hike prices a BUNCH the next week (highly likely).

Overall, gas boycott = epic fail.

[Chris Taylor @ Apr 28th 2008 3:52PM]

Exactly - Imagine having to PAY for air. Now imagine trying to BOYCOTT the air producers.

It just does not work when you MUST have it to survive and WE MUST have gasoline since there is no alternative.

[MBN @ Apr 28th 2008 6:55PM]

Boycott gas boycotts!

Seriously, what a waste of time. It's like saying "hey, everybody pay your electric bill a day later than usual." No net effect, whatsoever.

[decapitor @ Apr 28th 2008 9:14AM]

and this doesn't tip over how?

[Ghen @ Apr 28th 2008 9:16AM]

120 miles per charge at what speed? I don't know how companies test this.. is it real highway conditions with wind or on a dyno? (not sure if that's the right machine anyway)

[whatishalo? @ Apr 28th 2008 12:23PM]

Maybe if you got her to dance and wriggle in the passenger seat: http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/28/piezing-dress-generates-power-attracts-nerds-as-wearer-moves/

she can power the car on a long road trip!

[MBN @ Apr 28th 2008 6:58PM]

At the very least, her dancing and wriggling might make the trip more enjoyable for the driver.

[tsurugi @ Apr 28th 2008 9:23AM]

Prices are getting more... realistic in the EV category, but they're definitely not looking any better, I wouldn't pay 20k for that thing.. ever.

[Ghen @ Apr 28th 2008 9:42AM]

I'd like to see the math on 5 year cost of ownership. 25% of a normal vehicle's cost over 5 years is gasoline. Of course electricity isn't free unless you charge it with your solar panels.

[Neoprimal @ Apr 28th 2008 9:25AM]

I'm all for saving the planet...but there's no reason to get these little pos cars if they're costing the same as cars that use fuel or even hybrid vehicles. One of the fortwos is priced at 16,500....16,500!!!! You can get a really nice USED Civic Hybrid for just around that or get yourself a brand new one or a Prius for about 6000 more. They also achieve very typical epa mileage for small cars 45+. The Civic or the Prius will get you around the same mileage albeit much, much more comfortably and safely....and with passengers and trunk space as well.
At least this fugly triac does 120 and is a true example of that a little car thing should be/do.

Geez. You know what? Maybe I'm totally missing the point.

[nikola @ Apr 28th 2008 11:21AM]

Well, oil shill if you don't mind paying $4 for gas, (add a "1" in front of that if we got to war with Iran), then be my guess. Buy a used civic. Or buy a car like this and that costs you less than a nickel per mile. jack ass.

[Chris Taylor @ Apr 28th 2008 3:57PM]

Well its lithium so its a lot more money than NIMH powered cars (fraking chevron) but his point is valid.

YOUR point about buying this or the use civic being a shill statement is IRRELEVANT since I CAN NOT AFFORD $20grand NO MATTER HOW MUCH GASOLINE COSTS!

Know what I am looking to get? an under $2k Metro. At least when oil hits $8 a gallon I will be paying the same as I am paying right now.

Telling me hey this is better is meaningless if the better is literally OUT of my financial means.

I KNOW EV's are better! but at $20k its irrelevant. Just as irrelevant as the Tesla. $100,000 grand !

Even if gas was $10 a gallon I would not spend $100 grand in gas in my entire lifetime. Well close thats 400,000 miles and I put 300,000 on my jeep but that was when gas was under $1 a gallon.

I MIGHT do 400,000 miles in the next 20 years. You gonna find me a car loan with a 20 year payback and zero percent interest?? Will the Tesla even last 20 years? NIMH I think could Lithium I do not think will.

[Idlemind @ Apr 28th 2008 9:44AM]

I agree... and another point... how safe are these things supposed to be? This reminds me of my plaid shirted, beer gutted, suspendered uncle that thinks that since he has 4-wheel drive he can do any speed in any weather.

4-wheel drive, like electric eggshells, (I mean cars) are only safe if evey one has one.

what good is being able to get decent traction in the ice if GrandMa crashes into the back of you with her Buick.

What good is this electric car with countless miles to the (whatever) if the crosswinds on the bridge turn it into diving bell?

[Chris Taylor @ Apr 28th 2008 4:00PM]

NO the mistake with 4wd is 4wd makes you GO faster in Ice but 4wd or 2wd you have the SAME 4 BRAKES as grand ma's buick AND your now heavier than grand ma's buick.

IE 4wd is WORSE on ice when it comes to the IMPORTANT PART ie STOPPING the damned things.

4wd means you can DRIVE when others can not but it also means you need to be AWARE of its weaknesses and you STILL have the same STOPPING problem as the non 4wd vehicles!

[Strange Quark Star @ Apr 28th 2008 10:14AM]

Looks really interesting, but only 70 mph? Not fast enough, I need at least 88.

[brad @ Apr 28th 2008 11:26AM]

No use, they removed the flux capacitor due to added weight. Plus I'm sure it isn't very "green" technology.

[Farris @ Apr 28th 2008 11:47AM]

What, having a Mr. Fusion isn't enough, you have to be GREENER than recycling garbage???

[MBN @ Apr 28th 2008 7:01PM]

We're getting closer to 2012. Where's my Mr. Fusion already?

[Brian @ Apr 28th 2008 10:57AM]

I think I'll just walk.

[blore40 @ Apr 28th 2008 11:03AM]

Three wheels? Triac to triage at 70mph.

[AieeeCP @ Apr 28th 2008 11:20AM]

Can it do a burn-out?

[Jeff @ Apr 28th 2008 1:20PM]

70 mph != highway capable, especially since I'm sure it takes about four minutes to hit that speed.

[NikolasM @ Apr 28th 2008 2:01PM]

Actually, electric engines are torquey as hell, so it probably accelerates pretty fast, but they limit top speed to keep the range decent.

[paulm @ Apr 28th 2008 1:55PM]

Most of you are missing the point. We HAVE to redefine our notion of ugly. Just like we had to redefine what our notion of what a fellow human being was pre-slavery. Being stylish at the cost of the environment is not an option. We need to change ourselves. We learned to wear condoms to protect ourself from HIV, we've learned to stop making hats with Mercury, we're learning to use sunscreen.. it's just another state of evolution as we better understand nature. It's time to suck it up and start changing some of our ways based on what we know is right. Evolve.

[Chris Taylor @ Apr 28th 2008 4:02PM]

Screw the environment. I want an electric car because if its NIMH powered its abougt $1 per 100 miles to drive. Put a $1000 nano solar panel on your roof and a $1600 grid tie in within the garage and the car is not $0 per 100 miles to drive.

Maentanence free and virtually everylasting.

THATS why I want an electric car.

The environment? thats a VERY nice bonus side effect of an electric car. ZERO pollution.

[MBN @ Apr 28th 2008 7:06PM]

Zero pollution my ass. How many tons of coal are burned, creating how many tons of carbon pollution at the coal plants which generate the electricity to charge my electric car?

Sure, the power plant's ugly smoke-belching smoke stack is further away from my house than the one sticking out from under the back of my gasoline car, but it does create pollution.

[SKI @ Apr 28th 2008 4:44PM]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corbin_Sparrow

[Bill @ Apr 28th 2008 4:58PM]

This is not a car!

3 wheels = exempt from car crash tests

70 mph in this trike = evolution in action

[TeslaHater @ May 3rd 2008 11:22PM]

Ok...let me correct a few things I am seeing here:

To the people whining about wanting a car for "under 10K" and only one that can do "400-500" miles....even the "best" electric car out there...Tesla...is ranked to get only 200 miles...there is nothing out there that can do more than that today...and that car costs 100K! (without floor mats). And if your going 400+ miles, chances are you are flying...not driving.
ps...Tesla has no airbags too...they flied for an extension because they would have gone bankrupt testing them...I kid you not...that means there is NO electric car in existence today with air bags.

Secondly...even charging electric cars off coal planets produce net less c02 per mile than gas cars...around 2 to 4 times less. Why: internal combustion engine = inefficient...power plant = super efficient...more power per pound fuel burned. Ps...any of you heard of solar panels and wind turbines? Electric cars can be zero emissions if you want it to.

Third of all...a 3 wheeler won't tip over just cuz it's just three wheels...it's still stable to drive...so don't let a scene from Mr. Bean make you believe otherwise. Most electric cars have the batteries (thus the weight) down low, plus and no tall heavy internal combustion engine....thus low center of gravity = hard/impossible to flip. Your more likely to flip your Escalade than one of these.

Why do you think there are NO 4 wheeled electric freeway cars, save for Tesla? The big guys in Detroit are the only ones who can afford to crash test them and get them approved to drive in the USA...and THEY still have a couple trillions of $ of oil in the ground to do business with their partners in the oil company! They don't want anyone driving these things!

Support American energy companies (clean coal, solar, wind) and support the little guys building these "ugly" three wheelers, so in 5 years when gas is $10 a gallon they'll have the $ to build you a pretty 4 wheeled EV!

And stop hating on the price! I bet you can lease one of these things for whatever a month you are paying on gas...that makes it a FREE car!