UNDP and government embark on green recovery project converting 500,000 Tuk-Tuks to EVs

• Project aims to push low-carbon, inclusive, equitable development pathways within SL
• Conversion to be rolled out in three phases
• Pilot project to serve as a platform to launch electric three-wheelers in the country

In an effort to push Sri Lanka towards electric mobility (e-mobility) so that low-carbon solutions can be adopted, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the government yesterday launched a project to convert 500,000 Tuk-Tuks to electric vehicles (EVs) or e-Tuk-Tuks over a five-year period.

Assisting UNDP with the green recovery process are the Ministry of Transport and Highways, the Ministry of Power and Energy, the Department of Motor Traffic, and the National Transport Commission.

The project aims to support the conversion of petrol three-wheelers to electric three-wheelers as a means for enhancing mobility as a driver of low-carbon, inclusive, equitable development pathways within Sri Lanka.  

The proposed three-phased project consists of an incubation phase, a demonstration phase, and an acceleration phase. The incubation phase will test the conversion process, the demonstration phase will support conversions and the acceleration phase will use market forces for conversion through concessional financing and infrastructure development.

“This pilot project will serve as a platform to launch electric three-wheelers in the country. Electric three-wheelers will not only benefit individual operators but also contribute to springboarding the country’s economic recovery process,” said Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardana at the launch event yesterday.

The pilot project is a part of UNDP’s Green Development Portfolio which is currently being developed. The portfolio aims to build solutions and support Sri Lanka’s development in catalyzing low-carbon, green, and inclusive development within which sustainable transportation and e-mobility play a key role.  “Through this pilot project UNDP will support the Government to establish a viable system which can be scaled up and will prioritize marginalized groups, including women and persons with disabilities while keeping equality and equity at the core of our work,” said UNDP Resident Representative Azusa Kubota.

The incubation phase will support the conversion of 200 petrol three-wheelers to electric three-wheelers. 

To qualify for the conversion project, the Tuk-Tuk should not be greater than 10 years from the date of manufacture, and be petrol 4-stroke. While parties from Makumbura and Pettah will be eligible, priority will be given to applicants whose livelihood is dependent on a single three-wheeler, and preferential selections are given to women owners/ operators and persons with disabilities.  The UNDP said the strict selection criteria will minimize the risk of failure due to technical issues, the risk of delay in conversions due to limited capacity and will test the performance of different technologies available in the market opportunity for project stakeholders to test the market for energy efficiency (km/kWh), actual range per charge and functionality of safety features. 

The findings from the incubation phase will then be used in designing the demonstration phase. During the pilot phase, UNDP will cover the full cost of conversion to an electric three-wheeler and through this aims to support the revival of micro-level/informal sector economic activities to inject much-needed currency into the local economy.