The Triac: An Affordable Electric Car
California based company Green Vehicles recently began selling an affordable $20,000 electric car called the Triac. The small but efficient 3-wheeled car has a range of 120 miles and can travel up to 70mph on the highway. Charging the lithium-ion batteries that power the 20kw electric motor takes about 6 hours, and there is an optional capacity boost battery pack available that extends the range by 20% (why not include it with the car?). The Triac comes in 8 different color combinations and is available from the dealership in San Jose. See the company website for more details.
YouTube: Green Vehicles - Triac | More Videos
“By providing consumers with a choice they can be proud of, Green Vehicles has become a leading developer, manufacture and supplier of electric transportation. Starting with the sleek freeway drivable commuter, then the rugged work truck, and finally onto petite but chic city vehicles, we offer a full range of pure electric vehicles. Our engineers are constantly working to redefine efficiency and reliability, aiming to expand what is possible for the growing community who make protecting the environment a priority.”
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May 28th, 2008
Very spiffy! Needs the option of either a cheap vertical roof top wind turbine, or pv array charging system. Also a 12v power takeoff (cigarette lighter outlet) would be nice.
May 28th, 2008
Is this car really cheap? I’m an Indonesian and triac may not be affordable. I think an electric car ideally priced at below $10,000. I hope.
June 2nd, 2008
Lithium batteries can be over $10000 alone to maintain capacity. With cheaper new technology batteries, all is possible.
June 9th, 2008
Lukman - This is cheap compared to the Tesla, Tango (Commuter Cars), Aptera, even the Sparrow NMG. If you want something really cheap, look to the Chinese, like the Zap Xebra. But you get what you pay for. A decent electric scooter might be a better option than a real cheap electric car.
June 18th, 2008
Can someone who is six feet six inches tall fit in the Triac?
June 26th, 2008
Can’t wait for one of these to cut me off as I roll down the highway. Oops, must have been a speed bump.
June 27th, 2008
Hi, This is a freeway ready electric (AC Motor with regenerative breaking too!) with a 120 mile range. You can get this car TODAY for just $19.995 or save-up for the Tesla, which is now $113,000 - I’m getting a Triac!
Green Vehicles is also offering a city car (35mph - 60 mile range) for only $11.995… this could easily be a second car for those who live close to work… which is 80% of people.
Remember, these cars are not meant to be your main car. In fact I’ve heard that if you only have an electric, it is almost impossible to get insurance, but if you put this as a second car it’s cheaper than car insurance - plus, in CA. you can drive in the carpool lane alone because it’s considered a motorcycle.
July 7th, 2008
There is the Cree (http://www.cree.ch) car for a lot less. Less range and speed, but far more afordable.
July 10th, 2008
I hardly feel 20k is “affordable” to the average earthling. Even with the falling/failing dollar, 20k to anyone outside of the U.S. is still high priced. Also consider the fact that this car on a crazy highway is about as vulnerable as a motorcycle. When the price of the car and the batteries comes down then this might be feasible. Right now it just appears to be a toy for the rich and an amusement to the gas/oil, so-called fossil fuel cartel! Come up with something that really works and that all humans (especially us working people of the earth) can afford then we can talk!
July 13th, 2008
What is the acceleration 0 to 60? Saying it’s 70mph capable tells me nothing about whether I can accelerate onto a freeway safely. Also, what is the range at 70mph? Everyone’s assuming it’s still 120 miles… that may be 120 miles at a much lower speed. Why no specifications?
August 15th, 2008
Worth every penny at $10k.
October 24th, 2008
I will buy one for 10 000.
November 1st, 2008
Very nice vehicle with lots of innovation. However, there is a large number of people who are making their own by converting their gas vehicles to all electric at a much lower cost - roughly $10,000 and lots of elbow grease and passion. Visit http://www.evhelp.com to learn more.
December 21st, 2008
Two words - Honda Clarity.
January 28th, 2009
Richt on Lucy!!
What a waste of time making these things.
February 4th, 2009
I’ve owned a three wheeler with one wheel in the rear. The weakness is that if you hit a patch of rocks (or snow, ice, rain, slippery stuff, …) then it will slide in that direction. When it stops the car can dump over with a greater weight and force moving on one side (or the other). Although I loved the 100 MPH I got on a High Mileage Freeway, it proved quite a problem. Maybe they have addressed this problem.
March 19th, 2009
Anyone interested in really cool electric should check out the Aptera. It’s a 3-wheeler with zip and all the latest in high-tech gadgets. Best of all, it’s going to be available this year.
April 11th, 2009
The price may seem high but it will come down as battery technology progresses. It’s hardly a “waste of time” since cars like these are the beginning of innovative thinking in using alternative energy sources. 20K may seem expensive but you will save quite a bit on gas and repairs over 5 years…
I think it’s truly exciting that this type of technology is fairly affordable. My only concern is that it is taking Triac so long to get the car made and ready for the public. Another vehicle, the Aptera, also looks really good.
May 14th, 2009
So, it has 3 wheels. Could that be bacause three wheels qualifies it as a motorcycle, and therefore exempt from the safety standards of a car? The car may be green, but in an accident, you might be spilling a lot of red.
May 15th, 2009
You are correct Steve. Three wheels do allow the car to be released much quicker because it does not need to meet certain safety testing standards. This makes it faster and cheaper to get to production. The cost of these vehicles is mostly in the battery.
However, the 2 front/one rear, three wheel vehicle also allows a vehicle to be more of a tear drop shape (meaning more aerodynamic) and it’s also lighter (less energy to make it move). So for an electric vehicle it makes sense to use this design.
Funny thing about this vehicle is the company is based in Marin, CA. I commute through this corridor and the average highway speed is 65-80 miles per hour. So they need to up the cruising speed before I would seriously consider buying this car. Make it a 100 mile range at 80 miles and hour and I’m on the waiting list.
May 16th, 2009
I would not be interested, but so long as anyone would want to buy it, it should be available– we need lots of choices to make an EV society a reality.
I am almost finished converting a BMW coupe to full electric power… it will have better performance than it had with gasoline power.
Buzz Saw: you obviously never studied physics– yes, solar panels could help, but only marginally unless you park the car during the day where there is lots of sun. But to put a wind turbine on the car would not INCREASE its range, but DECREASE it– the inefficiencies of generators combined with the aerodynamic drag of the turbine and the significant drag that all generators have when making electricity would make it impossible to have a net gain of energy when driving.
The only time it might be theoretically possible to use such a turbine for an net increase in battery charge would be when the car is parked, but the excess weight of the generator would reduce the overall efficiency of the car, especially in hilly areas, and so would likely make it difficult to win that battle, either.
Gasoline cars are on their way out. Just how much growing pain we will have before EVs replace them will be determined by just how quickly battery technology advances. Several new technologies may make it possible within the next few years to recharge an EV nearly as quickly as it takes to gas up an SUV, and far more economically. We need batteries that are affordable over a given life span, that can be recharged rapidly, that are safe to use and provide a range of 100 miles or so between charges.
June 26th, 2009
20000 is still a bit too expensive. Personally waiting for the Volt to come out by GM. (if they survive)