New Post (199) : The Asian Tuk Tuk in Europe now
Who else but the Dutch………..(well done)……….
A Dutch company, Tuk Tuk Factory, has launched the first fully electric version of the well known three-wheel Asian auto rickshaw - the Tuk Tuk - to the European market.
The market introduction of the flamboyant and green Tuk Tuk took place on October 19th at eCarTec 2010 in Munich, Germany, Europe's largest international trade fair on electric mobility.
Tuk Tuk Factory is the first to develop and to obtain European Type approval for 3 models of its electric vehicle.
The company can deliver a 3-seater, a 6-seater and a cargo version to all EU countries, priced competitively in between 11,000 and 14,000 Euros.
The company is seeking European partners for sales and distribution.
To meet the regulatory requirements and consumer tastes of the European market, the vehicle has been redesigned from scratch.
For over a year, several electric retrofit prototypes were road tested in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
From these tests Tuk Tuk Factory determined that giving drivers the freedom of an 8-hour city cycle was the most important success factor for the vehicle.
A 15kWh lead acid battery drives the silent and maintenance free AC motor. The chassis has been designed to carry the 400 kilos battery.
Unlike many small city Electric Vehicles, the Tuk Tuk's huge battery is sufficient for up to 80 kilometers of driving. It has a charge time of 11 to 12 hours.
The classic Asian gasoline version of the Tuk Tuk - a staple of public transportation on the crowded streets of cities in the developing world - does not meet the environmental, quality and safety requirements of the European market.
But the electric Tuk does.
The vehicle is silent, Zero Emission, low-cost and ideal for short rides in the city.
It's also fun to drive.
This makes the electric Tuk Tuk a mobile advertising billboard.
The vehicle not only saves money in terms of fuel costs per kilometer, but will add revenue through its advertising potential.
The vehicle differentiates itself through the combination of being green and being fun.
The electric Tuk Tuk will in the main be operated as a city shuttle or event vehicle, or as a city cargo carrier.
So shall we raise a toast - “Tuk Tuk Europa” - to that ! (ha ha ha)
Charlie Brown
