UK consortium working on 'modern Tuk-Tuk'

A advanced engineering firm in the UK has designed what it says is a modern equivalent for the famous 'Tuk-Tuk', the three-wheeled vehicle widely-used in part of Asia and Africa as a taxi and commercial vehicle.

D2H is leading a consortium funded by Innovate UK's IDP15 scheme which aims to accelerate the transition to zero emission vehicles in the UK and globally.

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The design meets the L7E Heavy Quadricycle EU classification, and uses suspension, brakes and steering components from a current production chassis, with front-wheel drive from a front-mounted motor and battery packs stored at the back – this machine is a four-wheel vehicle unlike the more traditional Tuk-Tuk.

"Many electric vehicle projects target high-performance, high-value chassis concepts" said D2H engineering director Matthew Hicks. "While these are great engineering projects, we identified a need for a very low cost, zero emissions utility vehicle which can be adapted to different configurations and offers the potential for much greater uptake.

"Having secured Coventive Composites and Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) as partners, alongside Innovate UK's funding assistance, we have carried out a detailed design study to create a novel chassis which can be built locally to the market it is intended for, incorporating materials and manufacturing processes which are simple to use, abundant in the market and considerate to environmental issues, whilst providing consumers with the option of an accessible electric-powered utility vehicle."

The concept weighs just 480 kgs, without the batteries, and makes use of a new jute-based natural fibre thermoplastic polymer that has been developed by Coventive Composites.

"This material has many advantages – the jute is readily available in the target markets and is both lightweight and relatively strong," said Hicks. "When compared to metal alternatives, fibre reinforced thermoplastics have reduced manufacturing cycle times and energy requirements and allow high levels of detail to be moulded in, so they typically require less post processing. It was a material we wanted to incorporate into our design."

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"This a modern, clean running version of the legendary Tuk-Tuk, which has been so successful in mobilising millions of people in India, South-East Asia and South America.

"If we can create a lighter, safer, zero emissions alternative that competes on cost and utility, then we will have done the job."

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