Three-Wheeled EV To Begin Deliveries in October

Salinas, California-based Green Vehicles, Inc. announced that its three-wheeled, highway-capable electric vehicle is now in production with first deliveries expected in October 2010. 

The price will be $24,995, including the lithium-ion battery pack. The
company anticipates producing 1,000 vehicles per year at its facility in California.

The vehicle, called the Triac is currently on display at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.

The Triac prototype was introduced in April 2008, boasting a highway speed of 80 mph, a range of 100 miles on a full battery charge, and charging costs of about two cents per mile.

The company said the 2010 design incorporates feedback from early adopters and various engineering advances that, among other benefits, allow the vehicle to travel 20% farther per charge. Other improvements include:

• Advanced IT system, which integrates the battery management system (BMS), GPS, motor controller function and vehicle diagnostics; delivers efficiency during charge; accomplishes extremely high accuracy and tracking of energy storage; incorporates navigational capabilities especially suited to pure electric vehicle drivers; and adds data logging. Driver feedback and programmable/dynamic systems adapt performance to various driving conditions, helping to guide driving efficiency improvements, reduce range anxiety, and lower operational costs.
• Non-traditional electric drive-train, which raises efficiency and performance without the high cost of over-sizing the electric motor.
• Next-generation energy storage and power systems, which optimizes trade-offs between cycle life; energy density; specific power, cost, and temperature sensitivity.

“Feedback from early adopters is critical for really maximizing drivability, IT system usability, comfort, and performance under real-world driving conditions,” said Mike Ryan, Green Vehicles’ president. “The Triac will help reduce the number of polluting vehicles on the road while giving drivers the real pleasure of experiencing well-applied technology at an affordable price.”

The onboard charger can be plugged into any 110v or 220v standard outlet; a complete charge takes six hours at 220v. Charging the battery for the typical 50-mile commute takes about three hours.

You can see a video of the vehicle at the link below.