Fiat reveals its first three-wheeled vehicle
The fully electric Tris is an affordable and light commercial vehicle with 56 miles of range
Say hello to the Fiat Tris, the Italian brand’s first ever three-wheeled vehicle.
Why the name Tris, you ask? Due to the vehicle’s three wheels, modular design and three-light LED arrangement, Fiat wanted something easy to pronounce related to the number three that would resonate across multiple regions, no matter what language they speak.
The Tris was designed at Fiat’s facility in Centro Stile, Italy and manufactured in Morocco, with the intention of it being an affordable and light commercial vehicle. You’ll just be limited to short trips though, as understandably, the small TRIS only comes with 56 miles of range.
That being said, Fiat has stressed that, as well as last mile delivery, the Tris has a wide range of uses with its compact dimensions making it “an ideal solution for congested city environments.” No arguments there.
Charging Times & Top Speed
Boasting only 56 miles of range, I suppose the hope was that the Tris would be able to charge at a speed comparable to when the miles were depleted. This is, unfortunately, not the case with its integrated smart charging system allows a 0-80% charge in 3.5 hours and a complete recharge in 4 hours and 40 minutes using a standard domestic plug. An overnight job it is then.
In terms of power, the Tris has a 48V electric motor delivering 9kW and 45Nm of torque, allowing a top speed of 28mph. Although in rush hour city traffic, I can’t imagine it will be achieving that too often.
Fiat Tris Design
The Tris sits on 12 inch tyres and has an enlarged wheelbase. However, the main thing you’ll notice from the pictures is that it has no doors, meaning easy access and exit for the types of jobs it will be used for has been at the forefront of the Fiat designers’ minds from the get-go. The design is finished off by LED lighting system, which features FIAT’s new signature pixel design
Inside, the three-wheeler has multiple storage compartments, including a closed 3 litre capacity glove box on the dashboard and additional storage accessories, while a robust floor mat protects the vehicle from inevitable heavy steel-toe cap boots.
Where will it be released?
Those interested in Europe and the Americas will have to wait a while, however, as Fiat intend to launch the TRIS in the African and Middle Eastern markets initially. Despite rumours around the £10,000 mark, there has been no official word on pricing as of yet. On release, it will come with the choice of three bodies - pick-up bed, chassis-cab and flat-bed.
words: Mike Booth
pictures: Fiat - Stellantis