Electric vehicles model project underway
Electric vehicles model project underway
A model project to run 100 pioneering electric vehicles (EV's) in the country looks set to begin in October this year, the project manager said on Wednesday.
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Senior Representative, Mr Yuzurio Susumu, told Vientiane Times that the model project will take place in Luang Prabang and the capital, Vientiane.
The project will provide 100 pioneering EVs for a trial. Aiming to to evaluate their applicability and hopefully, promote EVs to all over the country, according to JICA's basic data collection study on low-emissions public transport systems in the Lao PDR, which was completed in October last year.
“We will provide services to tourists and also some governmental personnel, as well as ordinary citizens. We will probably hav e to work with bus and taxi companies and associations because we need operators,” Mr Susumo said.
He said JICA is looking to work with Japanese companies, with some of them requesting subsidies to impleme nt their own projects, which may be similar to or part of the model project.
“Of course the government can do it if they have enough funds. We proposed this but I don't know whether or not the government is ready to implement this model project on their own,” he noted.
He added that his office had interviews with several private companies, which are interested in the model project “if there is a decent subsidy from the government and other donors.”
Several funding schemes are available from the Japanese government or other donors, according to him.
“So far we have received two proposals for model projects of this kind from Japanese companies and currently they're waiting to see whether they will be approved or not,” Mr Susumo said.
Although he is confident that the project will begin in the last quarter of the year “if everything is going smoothly”, he said pioneering all 100 EVs will not be possible as yet as the model project requires about US$50 million in budget funding.
“However, at this time we have only received proposals up to US$1 million in value,” he said, explaining that they are still in the process of securing support.
The model project envisions pioneering various types of EVs such as e-motorcycles, e-passenger cars, and e-light trucks. The selection will be based on types of vehicles and travel purposes, among volunteers or applicants.
Based on the proposals received, the individuals or families will use the vehicles in their regular activities and report back on performance data over an experimental period of one to two years. Then, they will return the vehicles to the sponsors or purchase them at discounted prices.
“The project will enable ordinary households and private entities to experience EVs, and for manufacturers to collect operational data in different situations,” according to JICA's final report.
It said that “the impact should extend beyond the individuals,” considering the small number of EVs (100 units), “especially if they are known in the community and their personal experiences inspire future users of EVs.”
Installation of charging stations at key sites where the EVs would generally operate will be a part of the model project, although they can be equipped with self-charging devices, the report said.
It cited that the users will record their daily driving experiences including distance, time, and area travelled. They will also record their re-charging situation, such as the amount of charging, charging time and charging location. Their expenditure, particularly their monthly electric tariff and maintenance costs; and, impressions such as advantages, disadvantages, concerns and improvement points should also be recorded.
JICA's report said the users are expected to contribute to the cost of the project with the indicative project cost at US$7.2 million, which covers vehicle costs and charging infrastructure. It is proposed that taxes be waived by the government for the 100 pion eering project. The report cited that expansion of the public transport system in Vientiane by introducing EVs will eventually help replace tuk tuks and songthaews as more modern and safer modes o f transport.
It suggests replacing existing transit vehicles with new electric units to utilise vehicle designs more suited to electric energy, while retrofitting replaces the motive power of existing vehicles into electric motors.
The project will examine the viability of two tracks of action – replacement and conversion. Conversion of the existing vehicle fleet is also considered a potentially viable option.
Vientiane needs to expand its public transport coverage, before dependence on private cars becomes endemic, according to JICA's study.
It noted that the public transport system in Vientiane consists of the public bus system operated by Vientiane Capital State Bus Enterprise and para-transit options such as private mini bus services, taxis, tuk-tuks, jumbos and songthaew.
It estimates that the revenue of para-transit drivers is somewhere between 50,000-100,000 kip per day, and their expenditures for fuel are anywhere between 20,000 -100,000 kip per day depending on the type of vehicle.
“With this amount of income, it is difficult for them to maintain their vehicles in good conditions or to buy good quality parts,” the report states.
JICA's study also revealed that in Luang Prabang, the transport system is composed of road transport, inland water transport and aviation. It said that “paratransit such as three-wheel and four-wheel tuk tuks are the main public transport mode for the inner city.”
Most people in Luang Prabang use a motorcycle for commuting (63 percent), followed by walking (17.1 percent), para-transit (12.3 percent), car (4 percent), bicycle (2 percent), truck (1.4 percent), and minibus (0.2 percent).
vientiane times
