The electric Tuk Tuk in operation.[Photo/the-star.co.ke]
Rickshaws or tuk-tuks as they are commonly known locally, have become a popular means of transport. The means of transport, which is mainly preferred for its ability to navigate traffic faster, however, contribute to noise and air pollution.
A Kenyan company, Dave Tuk Tuk Ltd, has introduced electric tuk-tuks into the market as an eco-friendly alternative. A-first-of-its-kind in Kenya, the electric tuk-tuk is powered by a battery as opposed to fuel or diesel, which the existing tuk-tuks rely on.
A fully charged battery can go up to 120kms. Use of batteries ensures that there are no emissions released into the atmosphere, thus it’s a cleaner alternative. “Absence of an internal combustion engine also ensures that it doesn’t produce noise,” says Aanchaal Dabral, public relations manager, Dave Tuk Tuk Ltd.
The battery, which takes eight hours to get fully charged, only consumes three units of electricity equivalent to Sh40. “Petrol or diesel fuelled tuk-tuk need Sh600 worth of fuel to cover a distance of 120kms, making the product more cost-effective,” says Aanchal.
A research carried out by United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) in 2015 identifies traffic emissions as the leading cause of air pollution in Kenya’s urban areas. Air pollution is responsible for fatal respiratory diseases, lung cancer, stroke and heart diseases and is the single biggest killer in the world today, causing an estimated 6.5 million deaths annually.
Carbon monoxide and harmful particulate matter are some of the pollutants the traffic emissions release to the atmosphere.
The company that started its operations three weeks ago is based in Mombasa with plans to expand to other counties next year. A unit retails at Sh320,000 and comes with a spare battery.
“The shift to clean fuel is aimed at giving Kenyans an innovation that will help them live in a safe environment and have healthier lives,” says Aanchal.