A California First Debuts on the Streets of Pasadena
The dusitD2 hotel constance Pasadena Thursday will unveil a California first — an electric “tuk tuk” designed to shuttle guests to key locations in and around the Crown City.
Popular in Thailand, “tuk tuks” are a common mode of transportation in cities large and small. This model, all electric and capable of holding six passengers, is environmental friendly and road worthy.
“We’re excited that we can offer this service to our guests,” said Phil Anderson, general manager for the dusitD2 hotel constance pasadena. “We can now shuttle our visitors to several Pasadena landmarks including Old Pasadena, The Huntington Library and Caltech.”
The vehicle, painted bright orange, in line with the dusitD2 corporate logo, was assembled by eTuk USA in Denver Colorado.
Michael Fox, director of sales and marketing for eTuk, said the vehicle is the first of its kind in California.
“This is the first electric tuk tuk on the streets in California,’ Fox said.
The idea for selling tuk tuk style vehicles in the United States came after Fox and his business partners took a trip to Guatemala. There, most of the local transportation was done with tuk tuk vehicles.
Upon returning to the U.S. the group started a shuttle service in downtown Denver and expanded into manufacturing tuk tuks.
“We realized this was a bigger opportunity,” he said.
The hotel constance tuk tuk weighs 2,100 pounds unladen and is rated to carry 2,900 pounds in cargo.
The chassis is made with steel, and battery life, around 55 miles total can vary slightly depending on a variety of factors.
The vehicles earned their interesting name from the distinctive sound of the two-stroke motors that powered previous generations of tuk tuk.
“Because of that the old ones would go ‘tuk tuk tuk’, when they motored around town,” Fox said.
A boutique lifestyle hotel, dusitD2 hotel constance pasadena is located in Pasadena’s central business district, within walking distance of world-class shopping, dining, cultural, and entertainment venues. The stylish and innovative property is conveniently located near Los Angeles and Hollywood, served by Los Angeles International and Burbank Airports.
A second phase of the hotel’s development, slated for completion in 2017, will include 25 club level guest rooms with a club lounge, a rooftop pool with an outdoor sundeck and pool bar, a fitness center, spa, event space, and new retail and dining outlets adjacent to the hotel.
