Future looks sunny for Bangkok’s tuk-tuks FEATURE 06/30/2010

Future looks sunny for Bangkok’s tuk-tuks

FEATURE 06/30/2010 BANGKOK — Prapai Hemsuwan gunned the engine of his emerald green three-wheeler, sending it into a fit of rasping coughs and causing clouds of black smoke to belch into the air. “Life would be meaningless without the tuk-tuk,” he said. His beloved cart is one of nearly 8,000 auto rickshaws in Bangkok and their spluttering paroxysms — the “tuk-tuk” name came from the sound made by an early model — have become a key feature of city life. But the brightly colored buggies, most of which run on gasoline or natural gas, are facing increasing competition from more modern and greener modes of transport, raising questions over their future. A sort of motorbike crossed with a tricycle and a tin can, the open-sided buggy exposes its passengers to blasts of exhaust fumes during a white-knuckle ride down sweltering, traffic-choked streets. Set against air-conditioned and often cheaper taxis, as well as Bangkok’s elevated sky train, the humble tuk-tuk looks like something of a relic. But the creation of a new solar-powered model could see the three-wheelers accelerate into the 21st century. The prototype cart is the brainchild of Air Marshal Morakot Charnsomruad, who hopes that his buggy could herald a cleaner, greener era on Bangkok’s congestion-choked streets. “It will help clean up our country — everyone will want to drive it,” he told AFP. Morakot, a former armament and science chief for the Thai Air Force, is already selling electric versions across the world through his Clean Fuel Energy Enterprise..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100630com3.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Deliberate fraud FRONTLINE No hitting the ground running FEATURE Future looks sunny for Bangkok’s tuk-tuks MR. EXPOSE Refreshingly informal C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Plug gaps or scram HE SAYS Our future under Noy SHE SAYS Transition