This is a big talk in town now, since the government will force Tuk-tuk and Jumbos to run on certain roads only in Vientiane. Many jumbo drivers don't agree with this idea and they claim that Tuk-tuk and jumbos do not cause any trafic jams in Laos at all.
i love tuktuks.... i just dream about the day we can get electric tuktuk for low price (when we can get better batteries).
The main qualities of tuktuk are: - "open air", no need aircon, good peripheral view - cheap - large place to carry passengers and their various goods - small outside : don't cause too much trafic jam and can avoid trafic jam easily This make them very convenient for Lao country and lao climate
But they are - noisy, - noisy - noisy - use too much gas (expensive+pollution)
That's why i dream of an electric tuktuk: keep all the qualities, and ban the bad points: get silence, and if you can get efficient batteries at good price (we don't have the technology for that yet), low cost of use and low pollution. Tuktuk is very light, so it's convenient to be turned into an electric vehicle.... but so sad we have to wait at least a few years to get better batteries.
Electric Tuk Tuk, I had seen and rode in Xian, China, It is small, but it had enough room for two passengers and one driver sit comfortable. It looks nicer than Tuk Tuk in Laos. I believe, it costs cheaper than Lao tuk tuk. there are a lot of Erectric Bicycles too. These two transportations are likely good for Cities, Lao PDR.