TRIAC--another highway 3-wheeler EV

[rogwild]

Looks like another Calif. EV on the scene. Not a 'tilter' but states 80mph and 100 mile EV range (at lower speeds):

http://ftp.greenvehicles.com/PDFs/Triac.pdf

Haven't heard much about it yet, just an AutoblogGreen article:

http://tinyurl.com/6rw2a3

Video has some nice 'ocean sounds', but little information on safety features, or how it handles the 'curves'. Might be worth keeping an eye on.

note: .pdf document does state that it has a steel roll cage, and an Undermount Direct Impact Redirection System (whatever that is, could find NOTHING with a 'google search').

[danbucks]

Worth being wary of would be more precise, in my opinion.
I've seen it in person, and, it's one of the cheapest built things I have ever seen.
I would have driven it in person, but greenvehicles never returned my calls (many), and never called or emailed me back from a written confirmed list of folks wanting to test drive.
Did I mentioned they moved as well without telling their customers?
Details are in several posts of mine at flytheroad dating back several months.

If a get a few free hours, maybe I will hunt them down in the new San Jose loc and yell at them in person until I get a test drive.

At least they have swapped out a few of the more dreadful parts the unit had fresh off the boat from Europe/China.

[rogwild]

Great, looks like we already have a 'Point Man' for the TRIAC saga. Thanks, danbucks.

[Keldros]

I think the "Undermount Direct Impact Redirection System" may be referring to what's more commonly referred to as a breakaway engine mount (a feature already listed among the V1's proposed safety measures). Here's a technical description for them:
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/3869017.html

In basic terms, most vehicle engines are mounted to the frame on breakaway mounts. In the event of a serious impact to that area of the vehicle, these mounts are designed to shear off and allow the engine to fall or move out of line from the areas of the vehicle that are designed to crumple and absorb the impact. This keeps your engine block from getting shoved through the firewall and into the passenger compartment as the front end crumples.

My guess is they're using "Market-speak" to re-package a common safety feature in modern vehicles to make it sound like something new and groundbreaking in safety. That combined with the fact that they misspelled "hydraulic" would lead me to second danbucks' vote of being wary about this vehicle.

[danbucks]

eh? I think you hit the wrong thread, Keldros.

[rogwild]

'Keldros', you may be correct that the 'UDIRS' is just 'new speak' for the old 'break-away something or other'. Couldn't find much on their TRIAC website or anywhere else on the web.

[Keldros]

Danducks, I was addressing rogwild's note at the end of his first post in this thread about the "Undermount Direct Impact Redirection System." The link I posted was really the closest thing I could find explaining about breakaway engine mounts, but was a bit technical.

To me, any company that feels the need to re-label common features available on just about any vehicle is trying to compensate for something or seeking to shift focus away from something else. In either case, I'd stay wary of this company and this vehicle until more definitive info/testing is available. I also noted in the video that while it certainly did seem zippy, they never showed it taking a real turn. At best, they showed it handling a very gentle curve. This makes me wonder about the inherent stability of this vehicle, especially as it's a side-by-side tandem seater (uneven weight distribution with one passenger).

[AZEqualizer]

Ehab Youssef told Green Car Advisor (http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2008/08/green-vehicles-says-its-3-wheel-plug-in-pickup-and-runabout-available-in-october.html) by phone that test drives of the Triac will start in October and delivery of the Triac will begin at the end of that month or early November. Youssef said, adding that Green Vehicles hopes to produce at least 50 of each model (Triac & Buckshot) a month initially and increase output to 100-200 a month in the second quarter of 2009.

The Triac will have a top speed of 80 miles per hour and will retail for $19,995. Youssef went on to say the vehicle can be fully charged in as little as five hours using a standard 110-volt outlet.

http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/Triac1400.jpg

[Derwin]

It looks like an interesting vehicle, but what are the specs on it? Is it a hybrid, or all EV? If an EV, then how far can you go with it per charge?

***Update....I just found the answers to my own questions! It seems this is an EV with a claimed range of 100 to 120 miles per charge. Pretty good if it's true. I MIGHT consider something like this, but $20,000 is kind of high for a small vehicle with no "Fun Factor" like the V1. But definately something to keep an eye on.

Derwin

[danbucks]

Is this vehicle actually real yet? It was supposed to be as of roughly about now ... their site hasn't changed, as far as I can tell.
Who was the person who had an "in" on going down to San Jose for a test drive?
I still threaten to go down there and cause a scene, if the Triac is now finally ready, if the other person on this forum no longer has the "in"...

[ziggy951]

Is this vehicle actually real yet? It was supposed to be as of roughly about now ... their site hasn't changed, as far as I can tell.
Who was the person who had an "in" on going down to San Jose for a test drive?
I still threaten to go down there and cause a scene, if the Triac is now finally ready, if the other person on this forum no longer has the "in"...


Ummm...I think that person is you. LOL

[westonlgray]

I get the 404 every time I try to go to their website. If the main weight is in the front over the 2 wheels, it may be stable enough. I would be nervous driving it on the interstate though.

[Hardtime11]

It is cute but it does not have the fun factor tilt. :-)

We talked about it a little about 4 months ago in the VV Forum:
http://flytheroad.com/blog/forums/topic.php?id=702&replies=12
http://flytheroad.com/blog/forums/topic.php?id=678&replies=9

I agree we have to keep our eyes open for up and coming as well as updates on the already going.2thumb:up

[rogwild]

Here is the Latest (29 Sep 2008) I can find on the Triac:
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/29/altcar-2008-triac-in-the-metal-deliveries-to-customers-start-i/
http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/altcar-2008-triac/1061547/

[RAN]

The base price is up to $23,000. With A/c and a few other options, you're up to $30,000. Wayyyy too much $$ for that.

[ziggy951]

agr:1

[danbucks]

I am not the one with the "in" - I swear there was someone who had posted who had actually put down a deposit.
At least I am nearby - perhaps I will peek in and see for myself.

[rogwild]

Ehab Youssef told Green Car Advisor (http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2008/08/green-vehicles-says-its-3-wheel-plug-in-pickup-and-runabout-available-in-october.html) by phone that test drives of the Triac will start in October and delivery of the Triac will begin at the end of that month or early November. Youssef said, adding that Green Vehicles hopes to produce at least 50 of each model (Triac & Buckshot) a month initially and increase output to 100-200 a month in the second quarter of 2009.

The Triac will have a top speed of 80 miles per hour and will retail for $19,995. Youssef went on to say the vehicle can be fully charged in as little as five hours using a standard 110-volt outlet.

http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/Triac1400.jpg

Hummm...suppose to be 'delivering' in early November; I wonder where they are? Any info?????

[danbucks]

Nowhere, as far as I know. I find it mighty peculiar that there is no Dealer/showroom/test drive centers anywhere near what they are now calling their "Corporate headquarters" (which began as a showroom/dealer/test drive center many moons ago)

[AZEqualizer]

Haven't heard anything and don't see any updates on their web site other than a price increase to $23k for the base model (that RAN mentioned above). Things have been kind of off the radar since the last announced date.

[rogwild]

Oh, well; I thought that at least this one might have had a 'chance' to at least get something on the road, since it is rather 'low tech' (ie. no 'tilting'), seems like another 'Dream Machine' (aka 'Vaporware').

[rogwild]

Looks like 'politics' may be at work!
From April 2008 Autobloggreen;
"Ehab Youssef got tired of choking on ZAP vapor, took matters into his own hands and is now about to show them how it's done. His company, Green Vehicles (which recently moved from their retail Los Gatos location to a larger San Jose space according to a report in the Los Gatos Observer), will be offering a 144V lithium ion-powered vehicle (most likely sourced from China but with some work done here) capable of 70 mph with a 120 mile range, with tandem seating starting at $19,995."
It NOW seems that, Ehab Youssef, is CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, at ZAP!!!!!--------WAIT.....maybe NOT????
"Eqbal Al Yousuf is chairman of the board at ZAP."
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/05/27/zap-gets-a-new-chairman-eqbal-al-yousuf/
Might be part of the reason that the TRIAC is on the 'back burner'.
Oooops, one 'reader comments':
"i agree but you have your facts mixed Eqbal Yousuf still does work for zap ehab youssef is the one who used to then took the design and made a junk ev car of his own Eqbal yousuf is a good honest man ehab youssef is a lieing coward dirt ball."
Oh, my......too many "Youssef"'s for me!!!!!!

[Gunner]

Does it matter to anyone else that this vehicle is butt ugly? Sorry, I couldn't stop myself. :shup:

[denisg]

Not only is it butt ugly but it looks like it has a high center of gravity. I'd hate to make a sharp turn in this thing without it being able to tilt.

[rogwild]

I agree on the 'design' and 'engineering', even with these flaws, they have not been able to meet their stated Oct. delivery date,...... and seem to have 'gone silent' on their current status. I wouldn't buy one (for the above reasons..and others); but I would like at least ONE COMPANY to keep its word, and get something on the road for people to 'evaluate' and critique. I don't even think the TRIAC had the X-Prize to use as an 'excuse'.