Our Southeast Asia correspondent Zoe Daniel has been checking out the silent, solar-powered alternative.
(Loud motor sounds)
ZOE DANIEL: The tuk tuk - a symbol of traditional life and tourist fun - is also a hot, smelly, noisy way to travel. In a city notorious for terrible traffic, it's another contributor to the cacophony.
But in Bangkok's outer suburbs it's being cleaned up to take on the modern world. Former air force man turned inventor Morakot Charnsomruad is the brain behind the change.
At his home workshop he and his team create all sorts of green vehicles which they export all over the world - mostly to resorts and golf clubs. The electric tuk tuk runs on a battery boosted by a solar roof panel.
MORAKOT CHARNSOMRUAD: When you stop at an intersection or red light, traffic, that is coming all the time, yes.
ZOE DANIEL: So it's always charging from the sun on the roof right?
MORAKOT CHARNSOMRUAD: On the roof yes.
ZOE DANIEL: It's very cheap to run.
MORAKOT CHARNSOMRUAD: Twenty six baht per day.
ZOE DANIEL: Wow!
MORAKOT CHARNSOMRUAD: Less than one-one...
ZOE DANIEL: Less than one dollar?
MORAKOT CHARNSOMRUAD: Less than one dollar.
ZOE DANIEL: Yes!
It's attracted the attention of the Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who took one for a test drive. The government is considering how to retain the traditional vehicle in a modern city along with the ability of poor drivers to afford and adapt to new technology.
Drivers like Sukree Thongkham are a bit resistant. "It's not so powerful when we speed up", he says, as a noisy tuk tuk passes by. "Like that! It's powerful - a powerful engine", he says.
ZOE DANIEL: The new, sun-powered electric hybrid has yet to be approved for commercial use.
In Bangkok this is Zoe Daniel reporting for AM.
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