ETuk Corners the Micro-Transit Market in Denver
Denver may still be catching up to its East Coast friends in the case of public transportation, nevertheless it does have one claim to repute. it’s residence to the primary all-electrical tuk-tuk provider within the u . s . a ..
comparable to a souped-up golf cart, the three-wheeled motorized rickshaws—regularly known as tuk-tuks in Asia, Africa, and Latin america—will take guests anyplace round downtown Denver for a flat price of $ 3.00.
Walid Mourtada, president and CEO of eTuk Denver, mentioned the unconventional rickshaws fill a “micro-transit” hole for travelers—whether or not it’s from the Denver Union Station mild rail hub to work, or for a pair-block walk from a bar to a Car2Go or Uber.
“We think of ourselves as part of the solution,” Mourtada stated. “We’re the bridge between the long walk and the brief taxi or Uber journey.”
the speculation for eTuk Denver stemmed from Mourtada and two chums traveling to look the San Pedro Volcano in Panajachel, Guatemala, in 2013. It was once there that Mourtada and his now-companions Michael Fox and Colin Sommer fell in love with the motorized vehicles.
Little did they be aware of they have been coming into uncharted prison territory with tuk-tuks.
It took two years to figure out easy methods to design the car and adapt it for Western customers and to U.S. standards.
“putting six americans in probably the most Asian autos wouldn’t work,” he said.
He brought that the team wished a greener design that used to be all-electric quite than the standard gasoline or diesel-fueled tuk-tuks common in different countries.
those specs led the trio to talk over with the Tuk Tuk manufacturing facility in Amsterdam, the place after several months of analysis and relationship building, they had been ready to barter an exclusive U.S. manufacturer and distributor licensing agreement that permits the company to fabricate and sell an electric model of the vehicle within the U.S.
“We by no means concept we’d be a producer, however lets no longer find a doable product,” Mourtada said.
In March of 2015, the company became road-felony, with the primary business vehicle offered to Boulder, CO-based Bhakti Chai (pictured above). the well-liked chai model has given that named its tuk-tuk “Ginger,” and embarked with it on a 20-city U.S. tour.
“It captures consideration, which is perfect for advertising and marketing campaigns,” Mourtada mentioned.
ETuk’s manufacturing company, eTuk usa, today sells passenger and industrial autos to people, businesses and cities all over the u . s . a .. Base automobile pricing starts at $ 15,950 and can go up to $ 25,000, relying on the options.
“we’ve got over seven-hundred leads from around the united states of america, and we’ve sold and delivered 25 automobiles,” Mourtada stated.
the entire eTuk manufacturers are privately funded through the co-house owners.
“most effective this 12 months we’re successful as a result of we couldn’t sell anything else sooner than,” Mourtada said.
the corporate made its biggest deal in September with a sale to an Arizona consumer who ordered 20 vehicles for supply over the subsequent three years.
as a result of it’s now not day by day that the U.S. department of Transportation is offered with a new motor automobile, the partners labored closely with the division’s chief of team of workers to categorise the tuk-tuk as a three-wheel motorbike.
The designation proved a bother in Colorado, a state that requires all motorbike passengers to put on eye protection and someone under 18 to also wear a helmet.
“That didn’t last long,” Mourtada said. The legislature passed a invoice in the 2015 session exempting low-velocity, quick-distance vehicles comparable to tuk-tuks from the provisions.
the company is still figuring out the kinks for its newest product, eTuk trip, an app that connects riders to eTuk drivers. It additionally develops and licenses mental property that can be used on a national level.
Mourtada mentioned eTuk shouldn’t be having a look to launch any other carrier-oriented business similar to eTuk Denver—which can also be a customer of eTuk u.s.—but will provide its clients nationwide all of the tools and resources they wish to get tuk-tuks getting in their own cities.
“we predict the transportation business is a neighborhood area of interest,” Mourtada said. “I wouldn’t have the primary clue what the transportation desires are in southern Florida, as an instance. the easiest way to grow this is via partnerships with native firms and partnerships with completely different cities.”
Mourtada said that means now not handiest selling autos to clients, but also giving them the know-how and be aware of-the right way to function them easily wherever they’re based totally.
“On our side, we no longer transform a one-time sale company,” he said.
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