A vibrant Bangkok street scene symbolizing the transition to green technology.

Bangkok's Tuk-Tuk Dilemma: Can Green Technology Overcome Poverty and Corruption?

Lena Kashyap in Climate & Environment August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Exploring the barriers to eco-friendly transport adoption in Thailand's capital and what it means for a sustainable future."

Across the globe, cities face increasing pressure to adopt green technologies and practices to combat pollution. In Bangkok, Thailand, this push raises complex questions, especially when it comes to the city's iconic Tuk-Tuks. These three-wheeled vehicles, while beloved by tourists and locals alike, contribute significantly to air pollution. Efforts to transition Tuk-Tuks to cleaner alternatives like CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) have met with resistance, highlighting a tangled web of economic, social, and technical challenges.

A recent study delved into the factors influencing Tuk-Tuk drivers' adoption of green technology in Bangkok. The research combined qualitative exploration to identify key issues, followed by quantitative analysis to confirm their significance. By interviewing 176 drivers and analyzing the data, the study revealed that socio-economic factors, often exacerbated by green technology-related hurdles, play a major role in their reluctance to embrace change.

This article unpacks the findings of this research, exploring the specific challenges faced by Tuk-Tuk drivers in Bangkok. It examines how poverty, debt, lack of education, and systemic corruption intersect with issues like the high cost of green technology, insufficient infrastructure, and lack of technical expertise. Understanding these barriers is crucial for developing effective strategies to promote sustainable transportation and improve air quality in Bangkok and other developing cities.

Why Bangkok's Tuk-Tuk Drivers Are Hesitant to Go Green: Untangling the Barriers

A vibrant Bangkok street scene symbolizing the transition to green technology.

The study identified a cluster of interconnected issues preventing Tuk-Tuk drivers from adopting green technology. These can be broadly categorized as:

Socio-economic hardship: Many Tuk-Tuk drivers struggle with poverty, debt, and lack of access to financial resources. The initial investment for a CNG-powered Tuk-Tuk, along with ongoing maintenance costs, can be prohibitively expensive.

Limited Access to Capital: Many drivers lack the credit or savings to afford new CNG Tuk-Tuks or to convert their existing vehicles.
Daily Survival: For many, their daily earnings are just enough to cover basic needs, leaving little room for long-term investments in green technology.
Indebtedness: Some drivers are already burdened with debt, making it difficult to take on more financial obligations.

Systemic corruption and lack of support: The study highlighted the presence of corruption within the administrative and financial systems, making it difficult for drivers to access loans and subsidies intended to support the transition to green technology. This erodes trust and discourages participation in government initiatives.

Towards a Greener Future: Overcoming the Obstacles

Transitioning Bangkok's Tuk-Tuks to green technology requires a multi-faceted approach that addresses the socio-economic realities of the drivers, tackles corruption, and improves the accessibility and affordability of green alternatives. This includes providing financial assistance, streamlining bureaucratic processes, investing in CNG infrastructure, and promoting technical training. By working collaboratively, policymakers, businesses, and community stakeholders can pave the way for a cleaner, more sustainable transportation future for Bangkok, ensuring that the benefits of green technology reach all segments of society.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.5539/ass.v10n11p66, Alternate LINK

Title: Does Green Technology Espousal Really Matter?

Subject: General Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Journal: Asian Social Science

Publisher: Canadian Center of Science and Education

Authors: Dileep Kumar M., Ruswiati Surya Saputra

Published: 2014-05-30

Everything You Need To Know

What are the primary reasons Bangkok's Tuk-Tuk drivers are reluctant to switch to eco-friendly CNG technology?

Bangkok's Tuk-Tuk drivers are hesitant to switch to CNG primarily because of socio-economic hardships like poverty, debt, and limited access to capital, making the initial investment and maintenance costs of CNG-powered Tuk-Tuks unaffordable. Systemic corruption and lack of support further hinder their ability to access loans and subsidies meant to aid the transition to green technology. Overcoming these barriers requires addressing the financial struggles of the drivers, combating corruption, and making green alternatives more accessible and affordable. Without solving these problems, Tuk-Tuk drivers will be unable to adopt CNG.

How does corruption in Bangkok affect Tuk-Tuk drivers' ability to adopt cleaner technologies like CNG?

Corruption within Bangkok's administrative and financial systems makes it difficult for Tuk-Tuk drivers to access loans and subsidies designed to support the transition to green technology such as CNG. This lack of transparency and equitable access erodes trust in government initiatives and discourages drivers from investing in CNG-powered Tuk-Tuks, as they may not receive the promised financial assistance or support. Addressing this systemic corruption is essential for creating a fair and supportive environment for adopting green transportation solutions.

What socio-economic challenges prevent Tuk-Tuk drivers in Bangkok from embracing CNG technology?

Many Tuk-Tuk drivers in Bangkok grapple with poverty, debt, and limited access to financial resources. The upfront cost of a CNG Tuk-Tuk, as well as its ongoing maintenance expenses, present a substantial financial obstacle. For many drivers, their daily income barely covers basic needs, leaving little opportunity for long-term green technology investments. Additionally, pre-existing debt burdens make it even harder to take on new financial obligations associated with adopting CNG.

What steps can be taken to encourage Tuk-Tuk drivers in Bangkok to adopt greener transportation options like CNG, ensuring a sustainable future?

Transitioning Bangkok's Tuk-Tuks to green technology requires a multi-faceted strategy. First, financial assistance should be provided to alleviate the economic burden on drivers. Second, bureaucratic processes need streamlining to ensure easy access to support and resources. Third, investing in a robust CNG infrastructure is crucial. Finally, providing technical training will equip drivers with the necessary skills to maintain and operate CNG-powered vehicles. By collaboratively focusing on these areas, policymakers, businesses, and community stakeholders can pave the way for a sustainable transportation future in Bangkok, ensuring the benefits of green technology are accessible to all.

What implications does the resistance to adopting green technology among Bangkok's Tuk-Tuk drivers have for other developing cities?

The challenges faced by Bangkok's Tuk-Tuk drivers in adopting green technology, such as CNG, highlight a broader issue for developing cities: the complex interplay of socio-economic factors, corruption, and technological hurdles. If not properly addressed, poverty, debt, and lack of education, combined with systemic corruption and insufficient infrastructure, can significantly hinder the adoption of sustainable transportation solutions in similar urban environments. Overcoming these barriers requires targeted interventions, including financial support, transparent governance, infrastructure investment, and technical training, to ensure that the benefits of green technology are accessible to all segments of society in developing cities.