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Trev is the tiny Australian three-wheeled car of the future
Students at the University of South Australia have spent several years developing an environmentally friendly car that they call Trev: it's meant to be the ideal commuter vehicle. Trev is fully electric vehicle that uses 1/5 the energy of a conventional car. It weighs only 595 pounds, has two tandem seats, and can drive 93 city miles without having to be recharged.
The creators explain that the car only has two seats because more than 90% of urban trips are made with one or two people in the car. And since Trev's speed tops out at 75 miles per hour, it is pretty much limited to urban trips. Nevertheless, we hope that the students are able to advance their project beyond prototype stage: we bet it will happen long before this Hummer ever sees the light of day.
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Trev, via Treehugger
By Conf at 7:19 PM ON 01/22/08
That's really neat - I live in the city where that university is (Nitpick, South, not Southern) and it's unusual to see a car with more than two people.
By jonnymack at 8:05 PM ON 01/22/08
What about crash protection?
By SEKramer at 8:08 PM ON 01/22/08
@Conf: Duly noted: university's name corrected.
By TedinAsia at 9:35 PM ON 01/22/08
While it is one of the best concept electric microcar that I have seen, I continue to be amazed at the "designers" lack of understanding of what it takes to get this product to market.
1. No workable windshield wiper on an egg shaped curved windscreen, worldwide requirement for making an enclosed vehicle street legal.
2. Taper at the rear looks nice...but a slightly larger faring would allow for some amount of storage space...at the moment it looks like you have your choice of going shopping or having a passenger...not both.
3. Side Mirrors ? Rear View Mirror ? all government requirements.
Let's not even think of opening the door on a windy day...or trying to pay your parking toll...on a windy day...
As always...the devil is in the details.
By Murray at 1:14 AM ON 01/23/08
Nifty.. but I'm only seeing one seat. Anyone else?
By carl at 7:03 PM ON 01/26/08
Beutiful!! How does it handle??
By Minh at 5:19 PM ON 01/29/08
Finally, here is an out of the box design. Those who need seat warmers, 7 passenger seats, etc.. should buy another SUV.
This is a beautiful design aimed to be efficient. We do not yet have very efficient electrical energy storage devices. Lithium batteries are still expensive. For now, EVs need to be very energy efficient in order extend driving range for the limited energy storing devices we have today. 2F1R three wheelers do not have the inefficiencies and weight of the differential and the fourth wheel.
By sithigh at 10:55 AM ON 02/12/08
I'm not gonna die "saving fuel" in that little mobile coffin. I've got to share the road with SUVs and big trucks driven without patience or a full set of driving skills.
By mark at 4:39 PM ON 02/25/08
What a great looking little machine! Who cares if it doesn't have wipers/mirrors etc. It's got to be safer than a motorcycle, and it just looks cool!
By bmg at 5:44 AM ON 02/26/08
tendinasia - there is no need to have wipers- if you ride a motorcycle the helmet visor has no wipers- also mirrors could easily be fiteed again like a motorcycle. People need to be more open minded and government regulators also. Great concept - to be encouraged!
By mdcbert at 1:04 AM ON 07/23/08
"What about Crash protection???"
Buddy, It has 3 wheels. Its a motorcycle, the only protection you will get is weather protection. In the USA, TWO or THREE wheels make anything a "motorcycle" it`s the law. If you want more protection, get a car.
By mallymal at 8:26 AM ON 08/12/08
I say hats off to them!
Unlike most 3 wheel cars/fuel efficient cars, this doesn't look like some 3 year old's drawing.
By not getting bogged down with things like wipers, they have been able to think outside the box. Detailing can follw later. Overall the build quality & panel finish looks exceptional.
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mallymal:
I say hats off to them! Unlike most 3 wheel cars/fuel efficient cars, this doesn't look like some 3 year old's draw...More »