Triton Model H, the Electric SUV With 700-Mile Range That Tells a Very Tall Tale

Triton Solar, a solar panel and battery maker from New Jersey, has decided to get into the EV business, through the recently-launched startup Triton EV. Its first offer is a monster of an SUV called Triton Model H, which boasts an impressive performance and an equally impressive range, despite the overall massive dimensions.

The Triton Model H was announced late last week and has been stirring up controversy ever since. A single look at the specs will immediately explain why: both versions of this all-electric SUV keep the same exterior dimensions and weight (similar to those of a Cadillac Escalade) and yet boast ranges from 500 to 700 miles (804 to 1,126 km) on a 150 and 200 kWh battery pack, respectively.

The claims

Triton Solar has been in the market since 2012, but the EV branch is new. On the official website, there’s a note that states they’ve been building batteries for other cars, among other things, and have just decided to use all that know-how to develop a product on their own.

“Our team is made up of the premier automotive engineers from IIT Bombay, India’s most prestigious technical university,” the website reads. “Our team of engineers gained initial notoriety in 2017 by building the first electric formula race car in India. Every vehicle from Triton-EV is powered by proprietary Triton Solar batteries, which are half the size and half the weight of conventional vehicle batteries.”

The SUV would come in two variants: Triton Model H and Triton Model H Performance, with the latter able to deliver the 700-mile (1,126 km) range on a single charge. It would have a 200 kWh battery pack that would power four electric motors, one for each wheel.

With a wheelbase of 130 inches (330 cm), the SUV would measure 224 inches (569 cm) in length, 81 inches (206 cm) in width and 74 inches (188 cm) in height. Weighing 7,700 pounds (3,493 kg), the SUV would reportedly be able to develop 1,500 HP and do 0-60 mph (96 kph) in just 2.9 seconds – which would be utterly amazing to see. It would also have a towing capacity of 15,400 lbs (6,985 kg).

Both models of the SUV would comfortably sit up to eight adults and have plenty of storage space. They will be delivered with 10 years or 150,000 miles (241,401 km) of warranty, whichever came first once delivery goes through.

“We are car enthusiasts who design and build our products for other car enthusiasts,” the official website reads. “This combination of technical skills and industry passion has allowed us to develop the best vehicle in the long-range electric sector, with world-class functionalities & safety features. All of our vehicles will be proudly made in the USA.”

That said, Triton EV has been telling the media that they’re open to the idea of producing the parts in India due to low costs, and have the car assembled in the U.S.

The red flags

Without a doubt, it would be great if such an efficient EV came to market soon, but hoping for one and actually getting it are two different things. Triton EV is new to the market and, like many other startups, it’s making promises it has shown no signs of being able to keep.

For the time being, Triton EV has only renderings clearly based on a GM SUV and this unspecified “patented tech” to fall back on when making these claims. It can’t even offer an estimated delivery date, and the fact that it doesn’t currently have production plans could explain it. On the other hand, the startup seems to have found a way to break some laws in physics, by developing a monster of an SUV that is both big and heavy, yet fast and energy-efficient.

Then, there’s the issue of the deposit. The base version of Model H would come to the market with a $140,000 price tag, and a $5,000 deposit would suffice to secure a reservation on it. The Model H Performance would cost upwards of $180,000 but you can get it for the base-model price by pre-ordering today and coughing $140,000 upfront. How’s that for an enticing deal?

To put it differently, the Triton Model H is telling a very tall tale, so do exercise some caution regardless of how enticing the specs look. The biggest red flag with this all-electric SUV remains the deposit, which amounts to a fortune thrown on promises made by a relative unknown. For the sake of comparison, Tesla is asking for refundable $100 deposits on its upcoming Cybertruck, and Tesla is anything but a newbie to the EV market.