By Alloys Musyoka
The Car & General Trading Limited has introduced Piaggio electric three-wheelers at the Kenyan Coastal tourist destination of Diani in Kwale.
The vehicles come with low maintenance costs, one-year warranty, advanced technology and a long range at 120 kilometers on a full charge.
The electric three wheelers will maximize the earnings of owners ensuring optimum value for customers through better range, grade ability and load-carrying capacity, as well as providing a competitive total cost of ownership.
Operating the Piaggio electric three wheeler will save up to KSh 26,000 per month on fuel and service.
Tourism stakeholders have lauded the move by the Car and General motors company to launch the electric tuktuks in Diani Kwale county.
The move is aimed at ensuring that there is a clean and silent environment for tourists and all visitors in the area.
Diani has received several awards for having the best beaches that attract tourists across the world.
This has been necessitated by collaboration of Kwale county government and tourism stakeholders in the area for always keeping the beaches clean.
Noisy engine tuk tuks have been a thorn in the flesh for many tourists residing along the roadside hotels due to its noise.
George Rubiri general manager in-charge of consumer business at car and general motors told Coast Times Digital that the electric tuktuks are cost effective due to its rechargeable nature.
βThe engine powered tuktuks are noisy and not pocket friendly due to high fuel consumption. But the electric ones are eco-friendly because they produce zero emission and help reduce air and noise pollution,β he said.
Speaking in Diani after the launch of the electric tuk tuk in collaboration with Kwale county government, Rubiri said that Diani is a touristβs destination that requires a calm environment.
βDiani is a tourist destination and we have issues with conserving the environment, issues of climate and that is why we are launching a three wheeler tuktuk,β he added.
He said they have also put up charging stations and also plans to have swapping of batteries at shell petrol stations to make it easy for users to change their batteries accessibly.
Kwale county tourism executive committee member Michaele Mutua said that the county government is committed to work with such stakeholders in addressing issues around climate change.
He said that the benefits of using electric tuktuks for transportation include lower operating costs, reduced carbon footprint, improved air quality, and quieter and smoother rides.
Various businesses can benefit from using electric tuktuks, including delivery services, tourist transportation, food and beverage vendors, and event organizers.
βWe have had hotels complaining that the engine tuktuks are noisy while being driven near the hotels because we have hotel rooms facing the roads and are very expensive along the beach road which is always noisy but the tuktuk will end that problem,β he said.
Mutua said that it will be easy now for tuktuks to drop and pick visitors within hotel premises because they are silent if embraced by transport sector drivers.
