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MINI Pedi-Cab Stunt in China: Not So Green

by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 08.12.08
Cars & Transportation

Mini Pedi-Cab China photo

Clean Car or Dirty Pedicab?
While we're all for encouraging the use of more pedi-cabs in urban environments, MINI's publicity stunt in Beijing isn't exactly green. Not the worse thing happening in China right now, of course, but probably the most polluting pedi-cab in the world when total footprint is calculated: The body of the car was shipped from Germany to Hong Kong, where it was modified and assembled. From there it was shipped to Beijing for the olympics. Read on for more photos.

MINI Rickshaw Beijing China photo

Mini rickshaw olympics china photo

Since PR stunts are mostly symbolic in the first place, we encourage MINI to offset the emissions from this project. But especially, we encourage them to make more than 500 units of the electric MINI cooper. Now that could make a difference.

MINI
BMW to Make Electric Mini. Only in California. Only 500 of Them.
Electric Mini: 0-60 in 4 Seconds: It Has Motors In Its Wheels

More on MINI Pedi-Cab in China
MINI Rick Shaw does rounds in Beijing
Presenting the Cleanest Car in Beijing

Comments (10)

There are already so many foot-powered vehicles on the road in China, I'm amazed they'd need ot bring in ones from Germany.

These ones are branded, though. That makes them better, right? Right?

jump to top Anthony [TypeKey Profile Page] says:

It's a one-off stunt. Big deal. Pretty cool idea.

vsk

jump to top vsk says:

Treehugger, you seem to be breathless in your enthusiasm for any electric or hybrid car regardless of its ecological footprint and you question a pedicab? Please get a grip and really start asking these same tough questions about electrics and hybrids. This would be really useful to cut though all the PR hype.

jump to top Richard says:

"Treehugger, you seem to be breathless in your enthusiasm for any electric or hybrid car regardless of its ecological footprint and you question a pedicab? "

Things need to be in context.

electric cars are better than gas cars.

this pedicab isn't better than other pedicabs.

jump to top Anonymous says:

I think Sir Paul might fancy one... call Lexus now!

jump to top Peter says:

I think Sir Paul might fancy one... call Lexus now!

jump to top Peter says:

give me a break.. i've been reading treehugger for a year now and i have to say like a lot of US media now both left and right. tree hugger is just very anti anything chinese..

this is a publicity stunt right.. so most likely it's the first one so that's why they have to ship it.

but just like anything else if it's a success most likely eventually it will be manufactured locally in china.. thus reducing the footfprint. if that's the real purpose for the stunt. but most likely it's done for promotional purpose.

most prototypes do not have the luxury of being made most efficiently. b/c it's a prototype . usually made in custom way or limited editions.

you need to be better informed about general production process before writing these articles..rather than nick-picking on anything chinese now..

give me a break. enough already!!

we really don't have the moral authority to continuously pointing finger at china while our troops still in iroq..

it's embarrasing!!

jump to top grace says:

give me a break.. i've been reading treehugger for a year now and i have to say like a lot of US media now both left and right. tree hugger is just very anti anything chinese..

this is a publicity stunt right.. so most likely it's the first one so that's why they have to ship it.

but just like anything else if it's a success most likely eventually it will be manufactured locally in china.. thus reducing the footfprint. if that's the real purpose for the stunt. but most likely it's done for promotional purpose.

most prototypes do not have the luxury of being made most efficiently. b/c it's a prototype . usually made in custom way or limited editions.

you need to be better informed about general production process before writing these articles..rather than nick-picking on anything chinese now..

give me a break. enough already!!

we really don't have the moral authority to continuously pointing finger at china while our troops still in iroq..

it's embarrasing!!

jump to top grace says:

uh, grace, there's nothing anti-chinese in this post. MINI is a german company. and the writer of this post is Canadian, so 'his' troops aren't in iraq

jump to top Anonymous says:

I think you are going to far, this is a nice idea to use that peddal vehicle and stop emmisions, I know the process wasnt the best

jump to top Mariano says:

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