Electric tuk tuks are to make their first appearance on Australian roads as part of an Ikea trial in Sydney to deliver packages to customers.
The trial started on Tuesday and will run for three months, with two electric tuk tuks running deliveries within ten kilometres of IKEA Tempe. The trial is part of IKEA’s goal of achieving zero-emissions deliveries by 2025.
The three-wheeled tuk-tuks are powered by a 9kWh swappable battery, and are called Tük-se and Tack-se.
The electric tuk tuks can hold up to 500kg and will be delivering smaller home furnishing products, like IKEA’s market hall range, in addition to compact furniture items under 40kg, such as chairs and coffee tables.
“Electric vehicles are shaping the future of delivery around the globe, and we’re proud that IKEA is leading the way,” said Ikea Tempe manager Tiffany Mosura-Lesnock.
“We know that the congested roads of metro Sydney will benefit enormously from the introduction of electric tuk tuks in our delivery fleet, and we also hope it will inspire and drive positive change for the whole industry to meet the needs of people today without compromising the planet and needs of future generations.”
As part of its zero-emissions goal the company has already been trialling various vehicles globally, including electric rickshaws in India, cargo bikes in Madrid, solar bikes in London, and barges along the Seine in Paris.
“With more people living in medium or high-density housing and 8.1% of households in capital cities not owning a vehicle, we face new delivery, emissions, and urban mobility challenges in an environment where consumers are looking for more sustainable options,” said Mo Abbas, head of strategy and marketing for ANC Delivers, which is managing the trial.
Residents living in suburbs stretching from Sydney airport to the beaches of Bondi and Vaucluse, from Ashfield in the inner west and Mortdale in the south west, can expect to see the electric tuk tuks on the road until August.