A Green Tuk Tuk

During my travels in Thailand, I was often coughing and pinching my nose while wandering the streets and trying to avoid inhaling the thick black fumes emanating from the "tuk tuks" or 3-wheeled motorcarts that are the most popular kind of taxi in Thailand. The drivers wear surgical masks (do those make a difference?), and guidebooks warn that respiratory problems are the most common complaint tourists have in these parts of the world. Well, good news for the drivers and the coughing tourist! The same people who created the Sustainable Dance Club are in the works on completing a model for a hybrid tuk tuk! They're hoping to launch them first in India!

The model is a result of a contest the Amsterdam based organization Enviu launched that required its contestants to not only make a model that produced less carbon emissions but also one that was cheap to make, which would allow developing nations to locally produce them. With many regions in the world completely dependent on these vehicles, a hybrid tuk tuk could change their entire lifestyle and dramatically improve the amount of health problems and environmental issues the country faces. The contest's grand finale will take place in a few weeks in Chennai, India. Enviu is hoping to launch at least a million hybrids in India shortly thereafter!

Top Photo: poster for Enviu's hybrid tuk tuk competition
Bottom Photo: image of a standard tuk tuk