The story of the $1,000,000 van 

Amazing! Someone just forwarded this to me. So glad the IDEA is still around! I was a co-founder of Bright Auto. This was a very rough prototype (show car) to showcase the design and functionality of the concept, but was NOT intended to be a working car- hence no heat, wipers, etc. Bright is a very long story but the concept was to electrify delivery and service fleets. This was a plug in hybrid (as in 2010 batteries were super expensive), with an innovative “through the road” architecture where the rear axle was electric drive to complement the traditional front ICE. The van could drive on EV for about 35-40 miles than switch to hybrid drive. The style of the van was due to the focus on aerodynamics to improve efficiency and range. Bright was the first investment of GM Ventures ($5M) and was on track to produce these for fleets, but got hammered by the “Great Recession.” We were very close to getting a DOE loan (the one Tesla got) but why we didn’t is a story for another day. I can confirm a lot of blood, sweat, and tears went into this prototype. Thank you for saving this and honoring the engineers who worked on it.

Who could say no to a van like that?

"I'm one of those idiots that believe that vehicles have souls" Man, we both studied at man maths car university

It’s now with legit street cars and he got it running and driving so far and also spoke with one of the engineers along with other peeps that started that project in 2010

I think Alex was the perfect person to end up with this van, I think he might even get it running. You forgot to mention that if you get locked into the cargo area there are no interior door releases.

This was at my buddies shop West of Anderson, IN. He still has the smaller clay models in his shop, I think. Van was in Bright's shop until the lease people had a fire sale. He bought an incredible amount of stuff for like $5000.

Ed never missing a moment to pimp his one of one, land rover dumpster fire

The engineering and R&D aspect is such an amazing rabbit hole to go down in respects to some of these amazing prototypes that never saw production. You’re generally talking about a small team of individuals who are truly passionate about their project and it’s their heart and soul poured into these automobiles. Regardless if they never see production or not, I can respect saving the immense amount of work and outside the box thinking that goes into them

Travis may actually be the only person on earth who can make the word "rad" sound cool.

So crazy. Glad to see someone saving it. Spent many hours working on the idea

I saw "van" in the title and KNEW it was going to be Travis Bell

Travis is one of the people that as soon as I see it is him sitting in the chair, I just sit down the remote and let it play to the end... great storyteller, cool human. Appreciate the content from Ed & the VinWiki team. Cheers from Chattanooga, TN!

Legit street cars has it now and he is fixing it if anyone is interested to see more.

Everyone rewatching this cause of #legitstreetcars

Tbh this thing deserves to go to a weird car museum. Like maybe the lane motor museum or something along those lines

This is incredible! I joined Bright Automotive as my first professional job outside of college as a People Engagement Specialist. The passion the Bright team had across Indiana and Michigan was unmatched. The culture, the fun, the innovation, the forward thinking - best corporate experience I could have ever received, and it came with lasting friendships still in place today. Bright Automotive!! So good to see this!

This video just gave me a great CarTrek idea... can the guys do Van Life?

This thing needs to be in a museum just for future references to be able to look back on it

Was anyone else hoping Travis made a million on this thing? Nothing would be cooler than to see a truckload of money fall on Mr Bells lap

Now Legit Street Car RU-vid has the van and trying to bring back to life

Legit Street Cars has it now. He is based out if Chicago and this van was featured on two of his video's.

We all need more friends like Travis Bell.

Something about fancy van taped to a 2010 Chrysler key made me laugh so hard.

Us wagon people are not far different from the van people groups tbh but wagons tend to be quirkier vehicles IMO but they sure give us a run for our money!

Best talking cue ball stories of all time. Love some Bell lyfe.

Another good story Travis, thanks.

Another good one. I remember when you txt me about the “Six Million Dollar Van” …… Love the shirt Palomino ! - Rabbit 😎

It looks remarkably like a Transit Connect

Now I'm here from legit street cars

awesome to listen... as always well done Travis 👊

Would be a great addition for aging wheels!

Tomorrow tavarish will post his new van project to go with all his other projects he doesn't wrench on everyday.

This is such a funny story. Love his story telling, lol very funny one here.

Great story. One of one. Museum piece.

lol I remember the Bright Idea, my room mate used to work for them over in Anderson.

Looks like the new USPS vans

The starter interface issue was a mistake from the crew who made it. They should have made that thing play orgasm sounds when it cranked up with one touch of the button. Also, the lack of wipers, air conditioning and heating and especially, the frozen windows, show a lack of forward thinking by the people paying to get the model built. The first thing a potential customer does is crank it up (which should be easy to do, not a chore), play with the window up and down buttons and then say , "Can I drive it?" "No, it's just a lump of plastic and steel now but with 450 million dollars we can make you a working van." It is no surprise the answer was no. The style is fantastic. I love the look. But your experience and that of your friend is an excellent reason why display only models are not usually great vehicles to own. The crew now trying to make it a livable van will face many obstacles as they work around that crazy durable hybrid drivetrain. The style of that van is almost worth pulling all the running gear out and just putting a V6 Toyota or Ford running gear and all the accessories that come with that in it. Maybe they could swap in the window units for the doors too. The size and shape reminds me of the Ford Transit. That might be a place to get accessories like window gears and motors to work the windows.

When Travis was talking about where this van was going, my first thought was Casey Putsch.

Love the channel

Being 1 of 1 makes it so cool and special

I’ve got a kid. All I want is a good van

2 million dollar prototype. Legit street cars has it now. Spoke to and speaking with a few involved. CEO kinda wants it's back. (Buying)

Great video as always

Legit Street Cars is the RU-vid channel that got the van! He's gotten it running and has done extensive video on it! I love his channel!!!

Genius garage should get it 😁

Link for who got van?

Legit street cars has it. Says paid 1500 for it. The battery had a bad cell. But still had some charge. According to lsc

And legit street cars is the only one with one

Still waiting for that phone call to hear “Bring a trailer”

That's prime Aging Wheels material

Awesome story from Travis Matthew Bell.

What a rad story

Great story.

I always enjoy these stories. Making cars cool again...

Ah, I get it why this came up in my suggested videos. Legit Street Cars has this thing - and it's currently not running.

i cant wait for all the "so i had this bright idea" jokes XD

Cars have souls.. I felt that

@Casey Putch , This Sounds Like It'd Be A Great Project For Genius Garage!!!!

Sooo.. what’s the RU-vid channel that has the van now…?

3:43 that's Lithium batteries for ya

Man. I'd have that vans windows working wiper arms heat and ac in no time

Well. The technology to build this van is bieng used industry wide. The glue on body panels, aluminum constructions, and electronic internal parts.

A museum would probably like it

It's silhouette reminds me of the Mercedes-Benz Metris vans!

The world still needs a RWD V8 minivan

A "green" boondoggle if ever there was one

Million dollar van, with Saturn Ion Redline stock wheels.

Turns out it was a FULL CODE VAN!

I feel like this van is gonna end up at Genius Garage.

@lanemotormuseum is the right place. Someone should start an ev specific one. Would be useful for engineers and students.

Cool van.

This would be perfect for AgingWheels

As said above. Legit Street Cars has it, and i believe once finished the former CEO of Bright Industries wants to buy it back

0:36 - Marky-Mark?!!? I've heard of him. Is he new on this block?? Is he funky?

Travis struck prototype gold

Looks like a futuristic Hearse.

The dash definitely looks like something from a 2010 Chrysler

I would love to have this van

Surely someone would be interested in the fact that the batteries were still fully charged after 12 years as that is amazing in its self

I COULD say no.. but I’d be a damn fool. 😅

I think it was a caliber bas they turned into a van

I think, it should go to boostedboiz they have a turbo honda van . Carbon fiber van would go crazy

I want to see Aging Wheels have this van

To be honest, that's a slick little van. I'd drive it. .. and I don't even like vans

Van dad’s unite!

what is the RU-vid channel that owns the van now? I want an update!

im so happy that @legitstreetcars is taking care of this project now!

@04:05 I'm glad they didn't get the funding 'cos that carbon fibre bulkhead tells you they clearly weren't the right people to be trusting taxpayers money to lol

If it wae intended to be a dune buggy rec vehicle the lack of heat, a/c, wipers and roll-down windows wouldn't be a problem. For a road-going vehicle for gov't use (USPS?) a problem. By the time all these things (and perhaps others needed to meet safety inspections: no wipers = fail in my state) are added & sorted out the weight & cost go up perhaps cancelling any advantages the prototype had.

@legitstreetcars has a full video series on the Space Van. Really cool content.

Was just 10-12 years ahead of its time. Sad😢

looking forward to Ed calling me during my funeral so I can get up & answer

the picture appear to be vito with butchered body word ? (paused at 2:27)

I thinkone of the original engineers of this van should own it

You take that VAN and put 10 fifthteen inch subwoofers in the back and make it a competition sound vehicle. 200 decibles here we come!!!!! Lol.

You sell it to a museum.

By the time they are done getting it to where it can run and fix the windows and the wipers. It will cost them 6 million dollars. So it’s a fitting name for it. 😂

I like these story's and these kind of story tellers and people that should be on vinwiki the last two videos with the girl and that other kid just weren't great I couldn't even make it through them

Why isn’t the instagram tagged in the description?

G'day Ed😁......id love to look up auto tempest ol son. But im downunder🙃 so it doesn't do me much fun, this ol Aussie loves the U.S. car culture, so i'll just sub an like where i can. Cheers big ears from The Great Land Downunder😎🥳