Exchange students embark on transcontinental journey on electric tuk-tuk



BANGKOK, 13 August 2015 (NNT) – Three exchange students from France who are studying at Mahidol University are preparing to embark on a transcontinental trip on a solar-powered tuk-tuk (three-wheeled motorcycle) to campaign for alternative energy.

Under the "Pilgreen Project", the three students will be making their journey from Thailand to Toulouse, France, in a tuk-tuk powered partly by electricity and partly by solar energy.

The aim of the trio is to campaign for awareness on environment issues and the benefit of choosing alternative energy over fossil fuel. One of the students indicated that aside from its association with the Thai identity, the lack of air-conditioning on the tuk-tuk associates with conservation of the environment.

The electric tuk-tuk, which has a top speed of 100 kilometers per hour, commenced its journey on August 9. The students are expected to travel for 120 days through 16 countries – some of which include Laos, China, Russia, Turkey, Austria and Germany, before reaching their destination.

They are also expected to participate in a United Nations conference on climate change in New York, scheduled for December.

-- NNT 2015-08-13

The students are expected to travel for 120 days through 16 countries

A spokesperson for the university said this was a conservative estimate as they hadn't yet accounted for possible stops at gem shops, Indian tailors and soapy massage emporiums

Well alternative energy....What is alternative on electric produced in coal plants + maybe 0.5% from solar?

That is no solution at all.

Wasn't this exact same story published 3 months ago? Are they still preparing?

A similar journey was made was made by two English girls, Bangkok to Brighton in a "Shocking Pink " tuk tuk a few years ago. I hope we get to follow their story

https://www.google.co.th/search?q=Bangkok+to+Brighton+in+a+pink+tuk+tuk&newwindow=1&espv=2&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CDAQsARqFQoTCLm-5vzkpccCFQMZjgodz9wCpw

Impossible through Tibet ...with that thing exept on a truck ...or north to russia

Here's hoping they make it safely to the border.

Other than a '50's Cadillac with the tailfins, I can't think of many vehicles that would be less safe, less comfortable, less aerodynamic and less efficient than a Tuk-Tuk.

To echo what an earlier poster said, let's hope that they do indeed make out out of the country in one piece. I'd hate to read that they got wiped out by a careless driver.