In July, Wazuka Town in Kyoto Prefecture introduced an electric three-wheeled vehicle—a "tuk-tuk"—as an official town vehicle. The town decided to adopt the vehicle because of its maneuverability on the area's many narrow roads and its low environmental impact; such adoption by a municipality in the prefecture is considered rare.
The introduced vehicle seats three people and measures 1.1 meters in width, 2.3 meters in length, and 1.5 meters in height. It can be charged using a standard household outlet and has a top speed of 55 km/h. The body is a pale green color evocative of tea, and the side features a design of the town's official mascot, "Chacha-chan."
Wazuka is a mountainous town characterized by sprawling tea plantations and numerous narrow roads. The town needed to increase its fleet of official vehicles after hiring two individuals from the private sector in July under the national "Regional Revitalization Entrepreneur Program." The decision to introduce this specific vehicle was driven by its ease of handling, lower fuel costs compared to gasoline vehicles, and the fact that it produces no carbon dioxide emissions.
According to the town, the vehicle has been well-received by the hired entrepreneurs and town staff; they appreciate its ability to pass other vehicles on narrow roads and the fact that it does not obstruct traffic when parked on the street during visits. The Town Development Support Division stated, "If operations proceed without issues, we would like to consider increasing the number of these vehicles."
