Green Vehicles' Triac officially coming in July, for reals this time

In the latest of a series of when-can-I-get-the-Triac false starts, the three-wheeled electric car of obscene cuteness has a real launch date. No, really. According to AutoblogGreen, Green Vehicles is accepting pre-orders for July delivery of the Triac, which means you could actually be silently cruising the beaches in this thing come summer. For those concerned about safety and all that "not dying" stuff, Green Vehicles has assured the press that a safety cage designed by race car fabrication experts has been integrated into the car's design. Also, they promise that the lithium-ion batteries are good for at least 2000 cycles, which should last you about 5 years. We're being told that the Green Vehicles site will be updated today with reservation info, so keep an eye out.

[Via AutoblogGreen]

[JS @ May 14th 2008 9:07AM]

Roll cage? Those a-pillars look awfully thin.

[Darkroom @ May 14th 2008 1:31PM]

honestly... so much for all that "not dying" stuff...

[white_ultras @ May 14th 2008 9:10AM]

Do they seriously think we want such a crazy looking car in our lifes?

[CosterMonger @ May 14th 2008 11:22AM]

the Volkswagen New Beetle?
the smart?
Honda Element?

the uglier and cuter they look the more they sell

[Flashpoint @ May 14th 2008 9:12AM]

Unless Green vehicles are released as sensible:
4 Door sedans - the size of a Chrysler 300
full sized SUVs the size of a Tahoe
full sized mid sized sedans - the size of a CTS/Camry
full sized crossovers,the size of the Ford Edge

I really don't see many Americans going green any time soon.

Problem with gas prices is that the oil companies feel they can charge whatever they want on the high demand and they have yet to find out what price Americans refuse to pay. They have not reached the equilibrium.

Americans are so lazy and stupid now, I think they'd pay $10 a gallon - just to get things done.

WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE?
WHERE IS THE REVOLUTION?

[Philippe @ May 14th 2008 9:30AM]

@Flashpoint

Regardless, gas in the US is dirt cheap compared to Europe. So if you want to curb wasteful consumption by gas guzzlers, the tax on gas should actually be increased. A lot of waste occurs when some goods are too cheap:
- Cheap gas = longer commute, traffic jam, needlessly big cars
- Cheap (fast) food = oversize serving portion, loss of cooking skills
- Cheap loan = housing/internet market bubbles

So "lazy and stupid" is quite untrue, opportunistic and shortsighted yes, as would probably be anyone around the world with same insanely cheap goods.

[JJV @ May 14th 2008 9:43AM]

you do realize that there is infact a chevy tahoe hybrid.... the camry is also hybrid accord as well
for crossovers there is the tribute, its hybrid as well. THERE ARE MANY OPTIONS AVAILABLE dont just say that they arent there with out researching.

And dont make generalizations about people either, that will only turn around and slap you in the face (which is what you deserve btw)

[nikola @ May 14th 2008 5:59PM]

"Regardless, gas in the US is dirt cheap compared to Europe. So if you want to curb wasteful consumption by gas guzzlers, the tax on gas should actually be increased. A lot of waste occurs when some goods are too cheap:"

This line is a myth and lie put out by the oil companies.

First off, Europe is dramatically different in terms of transportation, they have cheap easy access to subways, train, buses, and even planes (I went from london to paris for $40 on a flight). Their populations are centralized around cities and public transportation access points. In the US the population is unevenly distributed with most commuting from suburban areas into cities. Unless they are living in a large city, most do not have access to subways, trains are too expensive for everyday commuting, and planes for commuting is laughable. These people do not drive because "gas is cheap" they drive because they have no other means of getting to work. To say "gas is cheap compared to theres" COMPLETELY ignores the dynamics of our economy. Make gas $5 or $6 and you will see a long, sustained, DEEP, recession as people will barely be able to afford driving to work and back.

In Europe they have the option of using cheaper LPG (liquid propane gas) in their car models. Our dollar is also worth about half the euro, so when someone says they are paying $6 they are really paying $3EUROS. They tax gas their because they simply don't have the space for alot of cars, and provide FAST cheap public transportation as an option. If you do not like the fact Americans REQUIRE cheap gas for travel, then you should lobby for more fast & cheap subway and rail systems that can replace cars as an option for immediate and extended travel.

[Ken @ May 14th 2008 11:13AM]

?!? The fact that people drive such large vehicles is WHY we are in this predicament in the first place!. Regardless of any efficient technology, pure mass is going to be the number 1 contributor to fuel efficiency. There is no need for such vehicles like the 300, SUV's et al. ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS ONLY ONE PERSON IN THE VEHICLE!!! A country like ours that is so large and requires automobiles for transport should have made the decision for smaller vehicles that all don't run on a single source long ago.

This is going to be one of those survival scenarios. People who can't adapt will suffer. Those that can will endure.

[peestandingup @ May 14th 2008 11:56AM]

JJV, those options suck & you know it. Chevy Tahoe Hybrid?? A whopping 20MPG, so don't make me spit my coffee all over my keyboard laughing at your ignorance of the subject & the big picture. Just because you slap a "hybrid" label on a tank still doesn't make it a good idea to drive one. The gains are mediocre at best.

What you could do is, um, STOP DIVING TANKS. Yeah I know, thats a mind blower. I guess you can take Americans SUVs when you pry it from there cold, dead (and bankrupt) hands.

[Philippe @ May 14th 2008 1:59PM]

@nikola

You got your causes and effects in the wrong order. People moved out of cities because they could afford the expense of commuting by car. Gas is not cheap because people wanted it to be. It's like saying food is cheap because fat people want to eat more. Supply and demand. Most people make choices based on the economic of the time. When they realize that the reason for their choice was not realistic for the long run, it's too late. So again, cheap goods make it easier for wasteful behavior to creep in and harder to correct.

[nikola @ May 14th 2008 6:19PM]

Philippe, gas is not cheap right now by ANY standard but your stupid ass comparison to europe. You know nobody will be raising the tax on gas, so the whole point of your post is to make people complacent and accept how they are being fu*ked over by the oil companies right now. You are deliberately trying to mislead readers with your ignorant B.S.

The fact is gas consumption in the US DECREASED 3% last year and continues to decrease even more every quarter this year. There is more gas in reserves now than in 2001 when gas was easily under $2 a gallon. Prices have NOTHING to demand. ZERO. We are beyond even regular price gouging at this point. People should be trying to find the homes and offices of the major oil execs and surrounding them with pitch forks and torches.

THERE. IS. NO. GAS. SHORTAGE.
http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/apr2008/bw2008041_945564.htm?chan=search

[jfreder421 @ May 14th 2008 9:54PM]

Admit it. You have no idea what determines gas prices, do you?

[Philippe @ May 14th 2008 10:11PM]

@nikola

Very good article, to which I agree. But overall, it doesn't change the fact that cheap goods is the reason why people make wasteful decisions. If people didn't take for granted that gas price would stay cheap, they might have built towns instead of suburbia and/or not bought the SUV to be single passenger stranded in commute traffic. Artificial price spike or not, such crisis have the upside to promote technical advancements, and bring back people to their senses (at little.)

Next: Let's move to a big house in a desert city, and expect to have cheap water, and a green lawn. Oh, noes, my water bill is more than my adjustable rate mortgage. How could that be?

[AlexNC @ May 14th 2008 9:22AM]

I could care less what the cars look like as long as they get me from point A to point B without the need for foreign oil, or any type of oil for that matter. I would love to have one of these cars, though, the cost needs to come down. Once lithum battery tech comes down to lead acid prices, these care are going to be every where. Americans are getting to a breaking point with these gas prices. I think if cars like this can come out with a $5000-$8000 price tag, Americans would buy the crap out of them - much like scooter sales are going through the roof right now.

[tundraboy @ May 14th 2008 10:55AM]

Pet Peeve #273:

If you "could care less", that means you still care a little bit. If you "couldn't care less", then you can't go any lower, you've hit rock bottom on your caring scale.

I think you mean you couldn't care less.

Sorry off-topic and picky but couldn't help it.

[AlexNC @ May 14th 2008 11:22AM]

It's called OCD - they have help programs for it =p

[mark @ May 14th 2008 12:26PM]

tundraboy:

The guy doesn't care--but says he 'could care less'.

Look up sarcasm & when you then say, "that isn't sarcasm" realize that's what people who don't get sarcasm say.

[Benson @ May 15th 2008 5:41PM]

No, it's not sarcasm, it's sloppiness. "I care so much" is sarcasm.

It has no bite as sarcasm; it's not subtle (which is good in sarcasm), it just doesn't say much.

[mulder_fbi @ May 14th 2008 9:24AM]

I'm not as interested in these green cars since I saw the Poulsen Hybrid add-on:
http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/

I hope this works well. I think it's more realistic that ppl will make an existing car "more green" then to expect that ppl will dump their current car for these little, expensive green cars.

[mulder_fbi @ May 14th 2008 9:25AM]

I think scooter driver deaths are on the rise too... :-P

[John Stracke @ May 14th 2008 9:36AM]

A car that has to be replaced after 5 years (a) isn't all that green, and (b) should cost less than $20,000.

[mulder_fbi @ May 14th 2008 9:46AM]

Does the car have to be replaced or just the battery?

[John Stracke @ May 14th 2008 10:00AM]

Well, maybe just the battery. But, as I understand it, the battery is typically something like half the price of the car.

Plus, are replacements going to be available in 5 years?

[John Stracke @ May 14th 2008 10:08AM]

OK, I take it back. See my response to littlefarny, below: it should last about 200,000 miles, which is fine.

[WmWinkle @ May 15th 2008 9:01AM]

Fuel cost are really eating into my wallet. I'm driving a motorcycle now instead of my diesel pickup. I'd love something like this as I could stay dry. My problem with most of the solutions is range. My commute is 56mi/day with no recharge available at work. I can just imagine the look on my bosses face when I walk in with the end of the extension cord. I've been waiting for something like this.

[Jonathan @ May 14th 2008 9:39AM]

Kinda looks like the Smart Car. Which makes me wonder why they don't just fill that thing with an electric powertrain? I mean, the safety is already there. Just read a report today that indicated that the car did pretty well in crash tests.

[Bad Beaver @ May 14th 2008 11:30AM]

There is one being tested in London already.

Smarts are indeed very safe due to their smart (ha!) design. You might feel a little vulnerable when shotgun, but not when driving yourself. They are awesome for urban environments. Small, agile, dynamic... parking is free in many places, and you never have much trouble finding space for it. They also do not eat much fuel, which is fine, as prices here have reached €1,50. Per litre. All in all they are great "get me there" cars for hopping around.

[chadow @ May 14th 2008 9:48AM]

I think the thing looks great. I haven't noticed the price anywhere yet, but I would buy one today if its under $12,000.

I agree with the post about the Poulsen hybrid add on also. I would buy that today as well. I guess they don't want to sell me one though, as I called them last week and was transfered to Ulrich(?) Poulsens voicemail which he hasn't yet returned. I was ready to read off my credit card info if he would have answered.

Maybe they will give me a discount since my last name is Green.

[John Stracke @ May 14th 2008 9:57AM]

$20,000

[littlefarny @ May 14th 2008 9:50AM]

Erm, if 2000 cycles is enough for 5 years, then does that mean we're expected to charge it up 400 times a year? Thus meaning more than once a day?

[John Stracke @ May 14th 2008 10:07AM]

Good point. It's good for 100 miles on a charge, so I suppose someone with a long commute might charge it every day (lasting just under 5.5 years), but more than once a day seems pretty impractical.

Come to think of it, this invalidates my complaint about it not lasting long enough: if it lasts 2,000 charges, and each charge is good for 100 miles, then it's good for 200,000 miles; that's a decent lifespan for a car.

[Jonathon @ May 14th 2008 10:13AM]

I emailed the company yesterday asking for more information and I got a timely response:

Hi Jonathon,

I am the President of Green Vehicles and I wanted to respond to your email personally. I have been working for close to 3 years now to develop electric vehicles that are reliable, practical and affordable. My team and I have been working “under the radar” because we wanted to guarantee 100% accuracy to our claims…No hype and no exaggerated promises. I decided long ago that I would not promote the vehicles until I knew that my goals could be achieved.

Our first working prototypes were completed approximately 1 year ago. We tested the prototypes vigorously and made significant improvements in terms of safety, power and functionality. The vehicles are now ready for the American market.

The vehicles utilize the world’s most advance large format lithium battery packs and battery management systems as well as 20 kw – 30 kw AC motors with full regenerative braking. My team of American designers and engineers have engineered the power plant that will go into the vehicles. The structural steel safety cage was designed by Impact Engineering of San Jose California. We will utilize the labor and assembly efficiencies of China. The final QA testing and approval will occur at our San Jose facility.

The vehicles will require very little maintenance. No tune ups, smog checks, oil changes, spark plug replacements, etc. Just service your brakes and tires as recommended. Our lithium battery packs will be monitored by the world’s most advanced battery management system. You will know if there is a problem with any particular battery or if there is a charging or discharging issue. We expect 2,000 cycles for our battery packs (5 years of service on average). Our technicians will be available to you via telephone (same way you would call in for technical support relating to your favorite electronics device). We will also carry and ship replacement parts directly to you or to your local technician. Our detailed user manual will allow your local technician to diagnose and repair any problem you might have. Our 1 year bumper to bumper warranty will cover any defective parts. And yes….we plan on training local technicians as to the few problems that might occur to these very simple and reliable vehicles.

The first production vehicles will arrive in July of this year. We are taking orders now with a 10% fully refundable reservation fee. Alternatively, you and other potential buyers can wait to test drive the vehicles in California by the middle of July. We anticipate leasing as well as selling the vehicles.

Our R&D and Service Facility in San Jose, CA. will be open to potential dealers starting in July of this year. Our other locations will be listed on or website within the next few days. We are currently enrolling new dealers throughout the country and the world and we anticipate that we will soon have a dealer in your area. We will be able to ship the vehicles directly to our customers so you do not need to wait for a dealership to open in your area. If you are interested in opening a dealership in your territory, please check back in with our website shortly and fill out a dealer application.

Our website was just updated yesterday and it will be updated again in a few days. You can print the spec sheets on each of the available vehicles. Please check back in periodically. We hope to be able to deliver a vehicle to you that will amaze you and make you feel good about your decision. We thank you for considering Green Vehicles.

Best Regards,
Ehab Youssef

[Randy @ May 15th 2008 11:56AM]

I would like to purchase one of the Triacs but see no where on their site to apply for the pre-order. Anyone know where to find it?

[silverblackvoid @ May 14th 2008 12:22PM]

if it had four wheels, i'd be so all over it

[mlf @ May 14th 2008 1:00PM]

I don't care what it looks like. If it's electric, and affordable, and safe, I will buy it.

[Ian @ May 14th 2008 2:26PM]

IT HAS EYEBROWS!!

[Mark @ May 14th 2008 2:34PM]

Great....I hope Canadian dealers carry this thing. I bet the Triac will sell out very very shortly upon release.

[D @ May 14th 2008 3:06PM]

This car would look so much better without that dopey center headlight.

[Neeko @ May 14th 2008 3:35PM]

1.Does it need a special location to charge?

2.Do you just plug it in you wall outlet and wait 6hrs?

3.What are the added cost to your electric bill having this thing charge once a day or at night?

4.And whats the inside look like?

I couldn't find a Q&A on their site.

[Lia @ May 14th 2008 4:40PM]

Neeko, there's clearly an FAQ on their site that will answer most of your questions. It's on the bottom right of the page.

[David @ May 14th 2008 5:44PM]

I agree that:
1) The single headlight looks silly,

2) A 3-wheeled vehicle will not be universally accepted (my wife won't let me buy one), and

3) SUV's are unnecessary (after all - they didn't exist a couple decades ago and somehow we were able to get from Point A to Point B).

BUT, kudos to Green Vehicles: many people are in a position to buy one (not married, for example) and are interested in quitting the oil addiction. As more companies stick their neck out and offer new technologies - more will follow and the competition will heat up.

[jamesFF @ May 14th 2008 6:07PM]

What do you mean that SUVs didn't exist a couple decades ago? You must be either blind or stupid.

The big Chevy Suburban has been around since 1935 (73 years) and the off road Jeep Wrangler has been around for 60 years.

[nikola @ May 14th 2008 6:17PM]

Philippe, gas is not cheap right now by ANY standard but your stupid ass comparison to europe. You know nobody will be raising the tax on gas, so the whole point of your post is to make people complacent and accept how they are being fu*ked over by the gas companies right now. You are deliberately trying to mislead readers with your ignorant B.S.

The fact is gas consumption in the US DECREASED 3% last year and continues to decrease even more every quarter this year. There is more gas in reserves now than in 2001 when gas was easily under $2 a gallon. Prices have NOTHING to demand. ZERO. We are beyond even regular price gouging at this point. People should be trying to find the homes and offices of the major oil execs and surrounding them with pitch forks and torches.

THERE. IS. NO. GAS. SHORTAGE.
http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/apr2008/bw2008041_945564.htm?chan=search

[Griffon @ May 14th 2008 7:49PM]

I'm guessing the time of the 'lasts 5 years' car has not yet come. Does make me wonder how long the batteries in Aptera are rated..

[The_Steven @ May 14th 2008 11:25PM]

A third headlight? That's so 1947... (Tucker Torpedo)

[Myridom @ May 15th 2008 12:13AM]

Read the small print.. You can't drive these on roads with a speed limit higher than 35 MPH..

It's a golf cart, no matter how you look at it.

[RickM @ May 15th 2008 1:42PM]

You're confused. They make two NEVs (the Microwatt and the Moose) that can only be driven in 35MPH or lower speed zones, but the Triac will do 80MPH and is freeway-ready. Read the specs.

[oobflyer @ May 16th 2008 12:14AM]

Hey Nikola,
Did you read that article that you referred to? It states that the U.S. has plenty of "Reserves". This means that they have been stockpiling fuel for military purposes. Of course they are stockpiling reserves because the entire planet will soon be depleted of oil. Read a little further:

http://www.peakoil.net/
www.oilcrashmovie.com/

[dawheelo @ May 29th 2008 11:38PM]

This car doesn't look all that bad.

Besides, I just paid $4.19 for regular gas for my Subaru. At this point, I'd drive a rolling electric turd.