Anauto rickshaw is a motorized version of thepulled rickshaw orcycle rickshaw. Most have three wheels and do not tilt. They are known by many other terms in various countries, including3wheel,Adaidaita Sahu,Keke-napep,Maruwa,auto,āta,baby taxi,bajaj,bao-bao,chand gari,CNG,easy bike,jonnybee,lapa,lapa-lapa,mototaxi,pigeon,pragya,tuk-tuk,tri-shaw, tukxi,tum-tum and tempo.
The auto rickshaw is a common form of transport around the world, both as avehicle for hire and for private use. They are especially common in countries withtropical orsubtropical climates since they are usually not fully enclosed, and they are found in manydeveloping countries because they are relatively inexpensive to own and operate. There are many different auto rickshaw designs. The most common type is characterized by a sheet-metal body or open frame resting on three wheels; a canvas roof with drop-down side curtains; a small cabin at the front for the driver operatinghandlebar controls; and a cargo, passenger, or dual purpose space at the rear. Another type is a motorcycle that has an expanded sidecar or, less often, is pushing or pulling a passenger compartment.
As of 2024,Bajaj Auto of India is the world's largest auto rickshaw manufacturer.[1]
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In the 1930s Japan, which was the most industrialized country in Asia at the time, encouraged the development of motorized vehicles including less expensive three-wheeled vehicles based on motorcycles. TheMazda-Go, a 3-wheel open "truck" released in 1931,[2] is often considered the first of what became auto rickshaws. Later that decade the JapaneseMinistry of Posts and Telecommunications of Japan distributed about 20,000 used three-wheelers to Southeast Asia as part of efforts to expand its influence in the region.[3][4][5][6] They became popular in some areas, especially Thailand, which developed local manufacturing and design after the Japanese government abolished the three-wheeler license in Japan in 1965.[7]
Production in Southeast Asia started from theknockdown production of theDaihatsu Midget, which was introduced in 1959.[8] An exception is the indigenously modified Philippine tricycle, which originates from theRikuoType 97 motorcycle with a sidecar, introduced to the islands in 1941 by theImperial Japanese Army during World War II.[9]
In Europe,Corradino D'Ascanio, aircraft designer atPiaggio and inventor of theVespa, came up with the idea of building a light three-wheeled commercial vehicle to power Italy's post-wareconomic reconstruction. ThePiaggio Ape followed suit in 1947. AlsoInnocenti another leading Scooter manucacturer came up with theirLambretta line of three wheelers in cargo version, later adopted as passenger version by its Indian colloboratorAutomobile Products of India.
Locally named the "tuktuk", the rickshaw is used as a means of transportation in most parts of Egypt. It is generally rare to find in some affluent and newer parts of cities such asNew Cairo andHeliopolis; and on highways due to police control and enforcement.
Together with therecent boom of recreational facilities in Gaza for the local residents, donkey carts have all but been displaced by tuk-tuks in 2010. Due to the ban byEgypt and Israel on the import of most motorised vehicles, the tuk-tuks have had to be smuggled in parts through thetunnel network connecting Gaza withEgypt.[10]
Due to extreme congestion inBaghdad and other Iraqi cities combined with the insensible cost of vehicles in relation to frequent violence, rickshaws have been imported from India in large numbers to provide taxi service and other purposes, in stark contrast to previous attitudes of thepre-U.S. 2003 invasion eras with rickshaws being disdained and sedans being held in high regard as a status symbol. Rickshaws have been noted for being instrumental in political protest revolts.[11][12][13][14][15]
In Madagascar, man-powered rickshaws are a common form of transportation in a number of cities, especiallyAntsirabe. They are known as "posy" frompousse-pousse, meaningpush-push. Cycle rickshaws took off since 2006 in a number of flat cities likeToamasina and replaced the major part of the posy, and are now threatened by the auto rickshaws, introduced in 2009. Provincial capitals like Toamasina, Mahajanga, Toliara, and Antsiranana are taking to them rapidly.[citation needed] They are known as "bajaji" in the north and "tuk-tuk" or "tik-tik" in the east, and are now licensed to operate as taxis.[citation needed] They are not yet allowed an operating licence in the congested, and more polluted national capital, Antananarivo.[citation needed][16][17][18]
The auto rickshaw is used to provide transportation in cities all over Nigeria. Popularity and use varies across the country. In Lagos, for example, the "keke" (Hausa for bicycle) is regulated and transportation around the state's highways is prohibited while in Kano it's popularly known as "Adaidaita Sahu".[19]
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Tuk-tuks, introduced inDurban[20] in the late 1980s, have enjoyed growing popularity in recent years, particularly inGauteng.[21] InCape Town they are used to deliver groceries and, more recently, transport tourists.[22][23]
Rickshaws, known as "Raksha" in Sudan, are the most common means of transportation, followed by the bus, in the capitalKhartoum.
Locally known as "bajaji", they are a common mode of transportation inDar es Salaam, and many other cities and villages.[24]
A local delivery company called as Sokowatch in 2020 began a pilot project using electric tuk-tuks, to cut pollution.[25]
Hende Moto EV & Taxi company was founded in 2019 by Devine Mafa, an American-Zimbabwean businessman. Hende Moto taxis were first introduced in Zimbabwe as the first vehicle manufactured by Zimbabwean three-wheeler manufacturing company Hende Moto Pvt Ltd. The first Hende Moto Taxi was introduced in Kwekwe in August 2019, and thereafter in Victoria Falls City and then Harare in 2019. Hende Moto is also the manufacturer of the first Zimbabwean-made electric passenger three-wheeled vehicle. It operates on a lithium-ion battery that has a range of 70 miles on a 6-hour charge.
Auto rickshaws are very common in the eastern Afghan city ofJalalabad, where they are popularly decorated in art and colors.[26] They are also popular in the northern city ofKunduz.[27]
Auto rickshaws (locally called "baby taxis" and more recently "CNGs" due to their fuel source, compressed natural gas) are one of the more popular modes of transport in Bangladesh mainly due to their size and speed. They are best suited to narrow, crowded streets, and are thus the principal means of covering longer distances within urban areas.[28]
Two-stroke engines had been identified as one of the leading sources of air pollution inDhaka. Thus, since January 2003, traditional auto rickshaws were banned from the capital; only the new natural gas-powered models (CNG) were permitted to operate within the city limits. All CNGs are painted green to signify that the vehicles areeco-friendly and that each one has a meter built-in.[29]
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Most cities offer auto rickshaw service, Althoughcycle rickshaws and hand-pulled rickshaws are also available but rarely in certain remote areas, as all other cities began using auto rickshaws.[30]: 15, 57, 156 Many state governments have launched an initiative of women-friendly rickshaw service called thePink Rickshaws driven by women.[31] The drivers are known as the Rickshaw-wallah,auto-wallah,tuktuk-wallah orauto-kaara in places like Kerala. Auto-rickshaws are also known as tempos in some parts of India.[32]
Auto rickshaws are used in cities and towns for short distances; they are less suited to long distances because they are slow and the carriages are open to air pollution.[30]: 57, 58, 110 Auto rickshaws (often called "autos") provide cheap and efficient transportation. Modern auto rickshaws run on electricity as government pushes for e-mobility through its FAME-II scheme,compressed natural gas (CNG) andliquified petroleum gas (LPG) due togovernment regulations and are environmentally friendly compared to full-sized cars.[citation needed][nb 1]
To augment speedy movement of traffic, auto rickshaws are not allowed in the southern part ofMumbai.[33]
India is the location of the annualRickshaw Run.
There are two types of auto rickshaws in India. In older versions the engines were below the driver's seat, while in newer versions engines are in the rear. They normally run on petrol, CNG, ordiesel. Theseating capacity of a normal rickshaw is four, including the driver's seat. Six-seater rickshaws exist in different parts of the country, but the model was officially banned in the city ofPune on 10 January 2003 by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA).[34]
Apart from this, modern electric auto rickshaws, which run on electric motors and have high torque and loading capacity with better speed, are also gaining popularity in India. Many auto drivers moved to electric three-wheelers as the prices of CNG or Diesel is very high and that type of auto rickshaw is much costlier compared to the electric auto rickshaw. The Government is also taking actions to convert current CNG and diesel rickshaws to electric rickshaws.[35]
CNG autos in many cities (e.g. Delhi, Agra) are distinguishable from the earlier petrol-powered autos by a green and yellow livery, as opposed to the earlier black and yellow appearance. In other cities (such as Mumbai) the only distinguishing feature is the 'CNG' print found on the back or side of the auto. Some local governments are consideringfour-stroke engines instead of two-stroke versions.[citation needed]
Notable auto rickshaw manufacturers in India includeBajaj Auto,Mahindra & Mahindra,Piaggio Ape,Atul Auto,Kerala Automobiles Limited,TVS Motors andForce Motors.
In Delhi there also used to be a variant powered by aHarley-Davidson engine called thephat-phati, because of the sound it made. The story goes that shortly afterIndependence a stock of Harley-Davidson motorbikes were found that had been used by British troops duringWorld War II and left behind in a military storage house in Delhi. Drivers purchased these bikes, added on a gear box (probably from aWillys jeep), welded on a passenger compartment that was good for four to six passengers, and put the unconventional vehicles onto the roads. A 1998 ruling of theSupreme Court against the use of polluting vehicles finally signed the death warrant of Delhi's phat-phatis.[36][37]
As of 2022[update] India has about 2.4 million battery-powered, three-wheeled rickshaws on its roads. Some 11,000 new ones hit the streets each month, creating a US$3.1 billion market. Manufacturers include Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. and Kinetic Engineering. A prerequisite for the adoption to electric vehicles is the availability of charging stations; as of early 2024, India had 12,146 public EV charging stations operational across the country.[38]
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Generally rickshaw fares are controlled by the government,[39] however auto (and taxi) driver unions frequently go on strike demanding fare hikes. They have also gone on strike multiple times in Delhi to protest against the government andHigh Court's 2012 order to installGPS systems, and even though GPS installation in public transport was made mandatory in 2015, as of 2017 compliance remains very low.[40][41][42]
The 200 cc variant of theBajaj Auto auto rickshaw was used in the 2022Rickshaw Run to set the record for the world's highest auto rickshaw, over theUmling La Pass, at 5,798 meters (19,022 feet)[43][44]
Auto rickshaws were a popular mode of transport in Nepal during the 1980s and 1990s, until the government banned the movement of 600 such vehicles in the early 2000s.[45] The earliest auto rickshaws running in Kathmandu were manufactured by Bajaj Auto.[citation needed]
Nepal has been a popular destination for theRickshaw Run. The 2009 Fall Run took place inGoa, India and ended inPokhara, Nepal.[46]
Auto rickshaws are a popular mode of transport in Pakistani towns[47] and are mainly used for travelling short distances within cities. One of the major manufacturers of auto rickshaws isPiaggio. The government is taking measures to convert all gasoline powered auto rickshaws to cleaner CNG rickshaws by 2015 in all the major cities of Pakistan by issuing easy loans through commercial banks.Environment Canada is implementing pilot projects inLahore,Karachi, andQuetta with engine technology developed inMississauga, Ontario, Canada that uses CNG instead of gasoline in the two-stroke engines, in an effort to combatenvironmental pollution and noise levels.[citation needed]
In many cities in Pakistan, there are also motorcycle rickshaws, usually called "chand gari" (moon car) or "chingchi", after the Chinese companyJinan Qingqi Motorcycle Co. Ltd who first introduced these to the market.[citation needed]
There are many rickshaw manufacturers in Pakistan. Lahore is the hub of CNG auto rickshaw manufacturing. Manufacturers include: New Asia automobile Pvt, Ltd; AECO Export Company; STAHLCO Motors; Global Sources; Parhiyar Automobiles; Global Ledsys Technologies; Siwa Industries; Prime Punjab Automobiles; Murshid Farm Industries; Sazgar Automobiles; NTN Enterprises; and Imperial Engineering Company.
Auto rickshaws, commonly known as three-wheelers, tuk-tuks (Sinhala:ටුක් ටුක්,pronounced[ṭukṭuk]), autos, or trishaws can be found on all roads inSri Lanka transporting people or freight. Sri Lankan three-wheelers are of the style of the light Phnom Penh-type. Most of the three-wheelers in Sri Lanka are a slightly modified IndianBajaj model, imported from India though there are few manufactured locally and increasingly imports from other countries in the region and other brands of three-wheelers such asPiaggio Ape. Three-wheelers were introduced to Sri Lanka for the first time around 1979 byRichard Pieris & Company. As of mid-2018,[update] a new gasoline powered tuk-tuk typically costs aroundUS$4,300, while a newly introduced Chinese electric model cost aroundUS$5,900.[48] Since 2008, the Sri Lankan government has banned the import of all 2-stroke gasoline engines due to environmental concerns.[48] Ones imported to the island now are four-stroke engines. Most three-wheelers are available as hired vehicles, with few being used to haul goods or as private company or advertising vehicles. Bajaj enjoys a virtual monopoly in the island, with its agent being David Pieries Motor Co, Ltd.[49] A few three-wheelers in Sri Lanka have distance meters. In the capital city it is becoming more and more common. The vast majority of fares are negotiated between the passenger and driver. There are 1.2 million trishaws in Sri Lanka and most are on financial loans.
In Sri Lanka, tourists are able to drive a tuktuk. Through the Automobile Association of Ceylon, tourists are able to get a temporary Recognition Permit which allows them to drive a three-wheeler legally.[50][self-published source?]
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InCambodia, a passenger-carrying three-wheeled vehicle is known asរ៉ឺម៉កrœmâk from the Frenchremorque. It is a widely used form of transportation in the capital of Phnom Penh and for visitors touring theAngkor temples inSiem Reap. Some have four wheels and is composed of a motorcycle (which leans) and trailer (which does not). Cambodian cities have a much lower volume of automobile traffic than Thai cities, and tuk-tuks are still the most common form of urban transport. There are more than 6,000 tuk-tuks in Phnom Penh, according to the Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA), a union that represents tuk-tuk drivers among other members.[51]
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InIndonesia, auto rickshaws are popular inJakarta asBajay,Java,Medan andGorontalo asBentor, and some parts ofSulawesi and other places in the country. In Jakarta, the auto rickshaws are calledBajay orBajaj and they are the same to as the ones in India but are colored blue (for the ones which usecompressed natural gas) and orange (for normal gasoline fuel).[52] The blue ones are imported from India with the brand ofBajaj andTVS and the orange ones are the old design from 1977. The orange ones uses two-stroke engines as their prime mover, while the blue ones use four stroke engines.The orange bajaj has been banned since 2017 due to emission regulations.[53][52] The Bajaj is one of the most popular modes of transportation in the city. Outside of Jakarta, thebentor-style auto rickshaw is ubiquitous, with the passenger cabin mounted as a sidecar (like in Medan) or in-front (like the ones in some parts of Sulawesi) to a motorcycle.
In thePhilippines, a similar mode ofpublic transport is the "tricycle" (Filipino:traysikel;Cebuano:traysikol).[54] Unlike auto rickshaws, however, it has amotorcycle with a sidecar configuration and a different origin. The exact date of its appearance in the Philippines is unknown, but it started appearing after World War 2, roughly at the same time as the appearance of thejeepney. It is most likely derived from theRikuoType 97 military motorcycle used by theImperial Japanese Army in the Philippines starting at 1941. The motorcycle was essentially a licensed copy of aHarley-Davidson with a sidecar.[9] However, there is also another hypothesis which places the origin of the tricycle to the similarly built "trisikad", a human-poweredcycle rickshaw built in the same configuration as the tricycle. However, the provenance of the trisikad is also unknown. Prior to the tricycles and trisikad, the most common means of mass public transport in the Philippines is a carriage pulled by horses orcarabaos known as thekalesa (calesa orcarromata inPhilippine Spanish).[55] Thepulled rickshaw never gained acceptance in the Philippines. Americans tried to introduce it in the early 20th century, but it was strongly opposed by local Filipinos who viewed it as an undignified mode of transport that turned humans into "beasts".[56]
The design and configuration oftricycles vary widely from place to place, but tends towards rough standardization within each municipality. The usual design is a passenger or cargosidecar fitted to a motorbike, usually on the right of the motorbike. It is rare to find one with a left sidecar. A larger variant of the tricycle with the motorcycle in the center enclosed by a passenger cab with two side benches is known as a "motorela". It is found on the islands ofMindanao,Camiguin, andBohol.[57] Another notable variant is the tricycles of theBatanes Islands which have cabs made from wood and roofed with thatchedcogon grass.[58] InPagadian City, tricycles are also uniquely built with the passenger cab slanting upwards, due to the city's streets that run along steep hills.[59]
Tricycles can carry three passengers or more in the sidecar, one or twopillion passengers behind the driver, and even a few on the roof of the sidecar. Tricycles are one of the main contributors to air pollution in the Philippines,[60][61] which account for 45% of allvolatile organic compound emissions[62] since majority of them employ two-stroke engines. However, some local governments are working towards phasing out two-stroke tricycles for ones with cleaner four-stroke engines.[60][63]
Tuk-Tuks have now been accepted as Three-Wheeled Vehicles by theLand Transportation Office (Philippines) as distinct from tricycles and are now seen in Philippine streets. Electric versions are now seen especially in the city of Manila where they are called e-trikes.[64] Combustion engine tuktuks are locally distributed byTVS Motors andBajaj Auto through dealerships[65]
The auto rickshaw, called tuk-tuk (Thai:ตุ๊ก ๆ,pronounced[túktúk]) in Thailand, is a widely used form of urban transport inBangkok and other Thai cities. The name isonomatopoeic, mimicking the sound of a small (often two-cycle) engine. It is particularly popular wheretraffic congestion is a major problem, such as in Bangkok andNakhon Ratchasima. In Bangkok in the 1960s, these were called samlaws, and they are still popularly called that today.
Bangkok and other cities in Thailand have many tuk-tuks which are a more open variation on the Indian auto rickshaw. About 20,000 tuk-tuks were registered as taxis in Thailand in 2017.[66] Bangkok alone is reported to have 9,000 tuk-tuks.[67]
Tuk-tuk hua kob (ตุ๊ก ๆ หัวกบ,pronounced[túktúkhua̯kop̚], literally: frog-headed tuk tuk) is a unique tuk tuk with a cab looking like a frog's head. OnlyPhra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya andTrang have vehicles like this.[68][69]
in 2018,MuvMi, an electric tuk-tukride hailing service launched in Bangkok.[70]
Various types of auto rickshaw are used around China, where they are called sān lún chē (三轮车) and sometimes sān bèng zǐ (三蹦子), meaning three wheeler or tricycle. They may be used to transport cargo or passengers in the more rural areas. However, in many urban areas the auto rickshaws for passengers are often operated illegally as they are considered unsafe and an eyesore.[71][72] They are permitted in some towns and cities, however. The Southeast Asian word tuk tuk is transliterated as dū dū chē (嘟嘟车, or beep beep car) in Chinese.[73]
A number of tuk-tuks (250 in 2013 according to the Paris Prefecture) are used as an alternative tourist transport system in Paris, some of them being pedal-operated with electric motor assist. They are not yet fully licensed to operate and await customers on the streets. Vélotaxis were common during the Occupation years in Paris due to fuel restrictions.[74]
Auto rickshaws have been commonly used in Italy since the late 1940s, providing a low-cost means of transportation in the post–World War II years when the country was short of economic resources. ThePiaggio Ape (Tukxi), designed byVespa creatorCorradino D'Ascanio and first manufactured in 1948 by the Italian companyPiaggio, though primarily designed for carrying freight has also been widely used as an auto rickshaw. It is still extremely popular throughout the country, being particularly useful in the narrow streets found in the center of many little towns in central and southern Italy. Though it no longer has a key role in transportation, Piaggio Ape is still used as a minitaxi in some areas such as the islands ofIschia andStromboli (on Stromboli no cars are allowed). It has recently been re-launched as a trendy-ecological means of transportation, or, relying on the role the Ape played in the history of Italian design, as a promotional tool.
Tuk Tuks are used in the main touristic cities and regions of the country, specially inLisbon and the sunny region ofAlgarve, as a novel form of transport for visitors during the tourist season.
Tuk Tuks have become a popular mode of transport in Spain’s main tourist destinations, particularly inBarcelona and the coastal areas ofValencia[75], as well asMallorca[76] .
In 2006 a British travel writer – Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent – and her friend Jo Huxster travelled 12,561 miles (20,215 km) with an auto rickshaw fromBangkok toBrighton. With this 98 days'trip they set aGuinness World Record for the longest journey ever with an auto rickshaw.[citation needed]In October 2022,Gwent police spent £40,000 on four tuk tuk vehicles in order to help fight crime.[77]
Tuk Tuk Montenegro has implemented tours withelectric tuk-tuks inKotor,Montenegro in 2018.[78]
Themototaxi ormoto is the El Salvadoran version of the auto rickshaw. These are most commonly made from the front end and engine of a motorcycle attached to a two-wheeled passenger area in back. Commercially produced models, such as the IndianBajaj brand, are also employed.[citation needed]
In Guatemala tuk-tuks operate, both as taxis and private vehicles, inGuatemala City, around the island town ofFlores,Peten, in the mountain city ofAntigua Guatemala, and in many small towns in the mountains. From 2005 to present the tuk-tuks have been prevalent inLago de Atitlán towns such asPanajachel andSantiago Atitlán. While tuk-tuks continue to serve as a prevalent form of transportation in Antigua and Lake Atitlan their use throughout the country as a whole has declined.
In the 1950s and 1960s, theUnited States Post Office (replaced in 1971 by theUnited States Postal Service) used theWestCoaster Mailster, a close relative of the tuk-tuk.[79] Similar vehicles remain in limited use for parking enforcement, mall security, and other niche applications. After a short time on the market (Mid-2000s to 2008) in the United States,[80] the vehicles failed to gain popularity in the United States, and as a result, are no longer available. The ManufacturerBajaj cited the manual transmissions aboard the three-wheelers as the reason for poor sales. As a result of modifications that made the machinesEPA andDOT compliant, the vehicles that were sold are still street-legal.[81]
Auto rickshaws are rarely seen in the United States, However there are companies that operate them as taxis, affordable transportation services, or rentals, usually in urban areas like Tuk Tuk Chicago inChicago, Capital Tuk-Tuk inSacramento, eTuk Ride Denver inDenver, the Boston rickshaw company inBoston and several more.[82][83][84][85][86][87][88][89][90][91][92][93]
TheNew York Police Department (NYPD) operates auto rickshaws that they call “three-wheel patrol scooters”. The patrol scooters are used for parking and traffic enforcement on city streets and to patrol places that most cars can't – like the narrow paths inCentral Park. The NYPD patrol scooters started being replaced in 2016 withSmart Fortwos. The NYPD believes that the Smart Fourtwos are safer, more comfortable, and more affordable, than the three-wheel patrol scooters due to the Smart Fourtwos coming with features that the patrol scooters lack like air conditioning, and airbags, while also costing about $6,000 less. The Smart Fortwos can also be driven on highways if needed. The Smart Fortwos are also said to be more “approachable” and “friendlier looking” which helps withpublic relations.[94]
In Cuba, the autorickshaws are small and look like a coconut, hence the nameCocotaxi.
Some auto rickshaws have been and are still used in Mexico, Such as inRickshaws in Mexico City.[95][96][97]
In Peru, a version of this vehicle is called a motocar[98] or mototaxi.[99]
Auto Rickshaws are seen in Bolivia.[100][101]
Uber allows auto rickshaws to be used by drivers.[102][103][104]
Tuk tuks or moto-taxis are used in some towns and cities in Colombia such as Jardín in Antioquia.[105]
Ikea did a trial run using Electric Auto Rickshaws inSydney, Australia to deliver packages to customers from May to August 2023.[106]
A company called Just Tuk'n Around using both pedal powered rickshaws and electric auto rickshaws carries tourists around in Airlie Beach.[107]
Mt Cook Alpine Salmon uses Auto rickshaws on its farms to move equipment and people around.[108]
A company using auto rickshaws called Tuk Tuk Taxi operates in Wanaka, South Island.[109]
A company using auto rickshaws called Tuk Tuk NZ used to operate in Wellington.[110][111]
A company using auto rickshaws called Kiwi Tuk Tuk used to operate in Auckland.[112][110]
In July 1998, theSupreme Court of India ordered the government of Delhi to implement CNG orLPG (Autogas)fuel for all autos and for the entire bus fleet in and around the city. Delhi's air quality has improved with the switch to CNG. Initially, auto rickshaw drivers in Delhi had to wait in long queues for CNG refueling, but the situation improved following an increase in the number of CNG stations. Gradually, many state governments passed similar laws, thus shifting to CNG or LPG vehicles in most large cities to improve air quality and reduce pollution. Certain local governments are pushing forfour-stroke engines instead of two-stroke ones. Typicalmileage for an Indian-made auto rickshaw is around 35 kilometres per litre (99 mpg‑imp; 82 mpg‑US) of petrol. Pakistan has passed a similar law prohibiting auto rickshaws in certain areas. CNG auto rickshaws have started to appear in huge numbers in many Pakistani cities.[citation needed]
In January 2007 the Sri Lankan government also banned two-stroke trishaws to reduce air pollution. In the Philippines[113] there are projects to convert carbureted two-stroke engines to direct-injected viaEnvirofit technology. Research has shown LPG or CNG gas direct-injection can be retrofitted to existing engines, in similar fashion to the Envirofit system.[114] InVigan City majority of tricycles-for-hire as of 2008 are powered by motorcycles with four-stroke engines, as tricycles with two-stroke motorcycles are prevented from receiving operating permits. Direct injection is standard equipment on new machines in India.[115][116]
In March 2009 an international consortium coordinated by theInternational Centre for Hydrogen Energy Technologies initiated a two-year public-private partnership of local and international stakeholders aiming at operating a fleet of 15 hydrogen-fueled three-wheeled vehicles in New Delhi'sPragati Maidan complex.[117] As of January 2011, the project was nearing completion.[citation needed]
Hydrogen internal combustion (HICV) use in three-wheelers has only recently being started to be looked into, mainly by developing countries, to decrease local pollution at an affordable cost.[118][119] At some point,Bajaj Auto made a HICV auto rickshaw together with the company "Energy Conversion Devices".[120] They made a report on it called "Clean Hydrogen Technology for 3-Wheel Transportation in India" and it stated that the performance was comparable with CNG autos. In 2012, Mahindra & Mahindra showcased their first HICV auto rickshaw, called the Mahindra HyAlfa.[120] The development of the hydrogen-powered rickshaw happened with support from theInternational Centre for Hydrogen Energy Technologies.
On 16 September 2022, at 11:04 a.m. (Indian Standard Time), a Canadian team (Greg Harris and Priya Singh) and a Swiss team (Michele Daryanani and Nevena Lazarevic) set the world record for the highest altitude at which an auto rickshaw has ever been driven. The world record was officially recognized and certified by Guinness World Records on October 10, 2024.[121] The two teams set the record by driving to the summit ofUmling La Pass at an altitude of 5,798 meters (19,022 feet).[122]
The two teams were participating in theRickshaw Run (Himalayan Edition), an event promoted by The Adventurists, where teams drive auto rickshaws from theThar desert town ofJaisalmer in Rajasthan to theHimalayan town ofLeh inLadakh. Rickshaw Run teams are given the start and finish lines, but are otherwise unsupported and left to their own navigational choices in completing the approximately 2,300 km journey.
The road at Umling La Pass was constructed by India's Border Roads Organization and completed in 2017. Guinness World Records certified the road as the highest motorable road in the world.[123]
Tuk Tuks: Mororised, covered tricycles which carry up to six passengers. Ideal for short 'hops' between the beachfront and city centre.
Tuk-tuks, also known as auto rickshaws, are becoming an increasingly common sight on South Africa's roads because people are trying to travel short distances at lower costs than driving and at less risk than walking.
Until the year 2010 Dar es Salaam had no room for the Indian Bajaji and or a tricycle to be used as a means of transporting passengers. Today it is a common feature around Dar es Salaam.
Tuk-tuks play a vital role in urban Sri Lanka's passenger transport system, providing what traffic experts call "last mile" service. Police and government workers rely on them too to navigate congested streets. In rural Sri Lanka, they are everything from taxi to ambulance.
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