THAILAND: "TUK-TUKS" SMALL ELECTRIC THREE WHEELED VEHICLES PROMISE HOPE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT IN BANGKOK.
Record ID:
646250
THAILAND: "TUK-TUKS" SMALL ELECTRIC THREE WHEELED VEHICLES PROMISE HOPE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT IN BANGKOK.
- Title: THAILAND: "TUK-TUKS" SMALL ELECTRIC THREE WHEELED VEHICLES PROMISE HOPE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT IN BANGKOK.
- Date: 27th September 1995
- Summary: BANGKOK, THAILAND (SEPTEMBER 27-28,1995) RTV-ACCESS ALL 1. GVS ELECTRIC TUK-TUKS DRIVEN UP TO EXHIBITION MADE JOINTLY BY PHOLASITH TUK-TUK AND PLANET ELECTRC INC OF THE USA 0.10 2. CU ELECTRIC TUK-TUK 0.14 3. GV PHOTOGRAPHERS 0.17 4. GV HANDING-OVER CEREMONY 0.26 5. SV RALPH BOYCE, US CHARGE D'AFFAIRS HANDS OVER SYMBOLIC TUK-TUK KEY (THE VEHICLE WAS SPONSORED BY THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT USAID) TO THAI MINISTER OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT, YINGPAN MANASIKARN 0.36 6. GV AUDIENCE APPLAUDING 0.41 7. CU TUK-TUK WITH 'ELECT.UTILITY TUKTUK' LOGO PULL BACK TO GV FRONT OF TUKTUK 0.49 8. GV PHOTOGRAPERS 0.52 9. SCU THAI TUKTUK MANUFACTURER FROM THE PHOLASITH 0.58 TUK-TUK COMPANY IN ELECTRIC TUK-TUK 10. GV ELECTRIC TUK-TUK DRIVEN AWAY 1.05 11. SCU ELECTRIC TUK-TUK ON DISPLAY WITH DRIVER 1.11 12. GV ELECTRIC TUK-TUKS ARRIVING AT PREVIEW 1.20 13. GVS STANDARD TUK-TUK TAXIS ON STREET 1.26 14. GV PASSENGER LOADING GOODS ONTO TUK-TUK 1.32 15. GVS TUK-TUKS IN TRAFFIC (3 SHOTS) 1.44 16. GV(REAR VIEW) TUK-TUK BELCHING FUMES 1.55 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
- Embargoed: 12th October 1995 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BANGKOK, THAILAND
- City:
- Country: Thailand
- Reuters ID: LVA8EHAQMUIYDV5JJNXGWRELI8OM
- Story Text: Environmentally-friendly "tuk-tuks" (three-wheeled vehicles) have hit the streets of Bangkok, promising to do away with the infamous, smoke-belching model.
Three battery-operated electric tuk-tuks, designed and built under a program sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), were recently handed over to the Thai Minister of Science, Technology and Environment Yingpan Manasikarn.
Tuk-tuks, named after the loud, lawn mower-like sound they make, carry two to three people and are used for short journeys in the city.
The three-wheel design enables drivers to weave in and out of Bangkok's notorious traffic jams, but the noxious fumes and smoke they emit have added to the city's worsening pollution problem.
Thai and U.S. officials said the idea to build an electric tuk-tuk was spurred by a drive to improve noise and air pollution in the city.
The three tuk-tuks presented this week will be tested over several months by professional drivers before production begins on vehicles.
A joint venture between Thai manufacturer Pholasith Tuk-Tuk, and its U.S. partner, Planet Electric Inc will start making more of the vehicles after the Thai plant opens next month.
The tuk-tuk body will be made in Thailand while initially the electric drive will be supplied from California.
USAID is using the technology from the Thai project to begin electric vehicle projects in India and Nepal, U.S. officials said.
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