Making the eco-friendly auto-rickshaw

Posted Jul 30, 2009 by ■ David Silverberg in Environment 6 comments

A Rotterdam-based group has introduced the Hybrid Tuk Tuk Battle. The challenge? Create a system to make one million auto-rickshaws (or Tuktuks) in India and other developing countries hybrid, "in order to improve the living conditions of millions of drivers and their families, and drastically reduce the CO2 emissions," according to a post on Treehugger.

Last weekend the final competition occurred in Chennai, India. The winning system saves "up to 26% of energy and 53% on fuel costs compared to a regular petrol Tuktuk, and only costs around $200."

Now there needs to be a financial program for Tuktuk drivers to reach their own goal: make 1 million Tuktuks hybrid.

Have you rode on an auto-rickshaw? What do you think about these "vehicles" going hybrid?

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Jul 30, 2009 by ■ skeptikoolflagged as abuse - show comment
#1

I think it's an incredible idea. I'd love to see them exported for personal use. If the existing vehicles could be modified, I think the owners' costs would soon be recovered.

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Jul 30, 2009 by ■ Alethea Borgmanflagged as abuse - show comment
#2

They were deemed as being 'highly' instable on trips to Indonesia, India and Thailand... but you deal with it ofcoursec and enjoy; let's hope they come up with an 'eu' certified machine! That will fuel demand surely...

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Jul 31, 2009 by ■ A Oosthuysen-Stuijtflagged as abuse - show comment
#3

"Have you rode on an auto-rickshaw?"

Have indeed had breakneck-trips on these smelly beasties. Not for the faint-hearted. And the air in Indonesia's cities, where I had this experience, indeed is very badly polluted because of the trail of smelly exhaust gases they leave behind them in thick clouds wherever they roar around. If these vehicles could be converted to greener energy however, they would be great on the Dutch bicycle paths. I think we'd take to these guys in a big way.

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Aug 16, 2009 by ■ skeptikoolflagged as abuse - show comment
#4

Don't know how this works across different time zones, but the popular CBC radio program Cross Country Checkup is about to be on EVs. It starts here following 1:00PM news. (Delta BC)

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Aug 16, 2009 by ■ skeptikoolflagged as abuse - show comment
#5

A great intro to the program. Am not calling but have emailed. If interested (some read on air):
checkup@cbc.ca
copy:

Dear Mod,
I've been a booster of EVs since driving an electric delivery van in the 40s. Other than the price being mentioned, I like much about the Volt. Mine would be pure electric. I would like to see the gas engine have quick disconnects and a portable gas tank similar to those used with outboard motors.
The biggest boost for the auto industry EVs, in my opinion, would be the introduction of transferable auto insurance.
sincerely

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Aug 16, 2009 by ■ skeptikoolflagged as abuse - show comment
#6

Why did I post info on this CBC program here? Well, My son phoned me just a few minutes before the program was to start. I then went to Environment and posted the info on the first topic dealing with EVs.
In any event, with or without its own blog, I suspect the same monumental disinterest would have prevailed.

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