Australian solar firm, Star 8 Solar, developed a new tuk tuk that runs via solar power that has gained attention from Nigeria and South Africa.
Managing director Jacob Maimon developed the concept after a holiday in Vietnam after watching tuk tuk drivers using small amounts of petrol to fuel the mode of transportation. Drivers could only afford to partially fill a tank in order to cover daily expenses. The solar-driven tuk tuk includes a backup electric engine, which is very cheap to operate, according to Maimon.
Star 8 is building a factory in Cambodia where the finalized product will include four different designs and three different engine capacities. The designs will feature a range from a single, lightweight, mono-crystalline flexible panel roof available in 10 colors. The product will have two batteries with expected costs to range between $2,000 and $3,000. The vehicle will be able to run at 50 km per hour, driving up to 120 km until it needs to be charged.
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