According to the Light Electric Vehicle Association (LEVA), Asia is electrifying its tourism sector with electric tuk tuks as part of a green initiative.

Electric tuk tuks now navigate Manila, Philippines – Source: CNN
Air pollution threatens tourism in Asian countries, largely due to the prevalent use of conventional vehicles in tourist cities. Thus, most nations are adopting electric tuk tuks to green their tourism sectors.
Ed Benjamin, chairman of the Electric Green Vehicle Trade Association, highlighted: “In Asian countries, the two-stroke engine tricycles and tuk tuks have become iconic urban transport in tourism hubs like New Delhi, India, and Bangkok, Thailand.”
Environmental experts point to these vehicles as a primary source of air pollution in Asian countries including India, Thailand, China, and even Vietnam.
Their widespread use is attributed to affordability and maneuverability, yet they contribute to traffic congestion, high CO2 emissions, air pollution, and noise pollution, leading to tourist dissatisfaction and concerns about repeat visits from the tourism authorities.
Against this backdrop, the tourism industry in Asia, particularly Southeast Asian countries, is undergoing a transformation by adopting electric tuk tuks to significantly reduce air and noise pollution.

Similar to Vietnam's Lam, the auto rickshaw serves as a primary mode of transport in the bustling tourism cities of India – Source: CNN

In Thailand, the tuk tuk stands out as a widely used means of transportation within the tourism industry – Source: CNN
The Philippines sets an example by implementing electric tuk tuks in Manila, aiming for a green revolution in national transport with an anticipated 100,000 electric tuk tuks by 2016.
Toru Tokushige, CEO of Japan's Terra Motors, states: “We are actively introducing our electric tuk tuk line to the tourism markets of Vietnam, India, and the Philippines, marking a ‘reverse innovation’ trend from developing to developed countries.”
Source: Youth Daily
Posted by: Nguyen Phan
Keywords: Electric tuk tuks greening Asia's tourism sector