Plan for EV-driven future in the works

THE government is preparing a policy framework and support structure for electric vehicles (EV) to encourage their use in Cambodia and beef up the carbon-emissions reduction gameplan, according to Minister of Public Works and Transport Sun Chanthol.

He underlined that EVs, which are available to the public in Cambodia, are a pivotal catalyst for the reduction of CO2 and associated emissions in the atmosphere and their harmful footprint on the environment.

The minister was speaking at a panel discussion on the “Electrification of Vehicles for a Cleaner Cambodia” in the capital on Thursday, which was also attended by Electricite du Cambodge (EdC) director-general Keo Rottanak, British ambassador Tina Redshaw and her Australian counterpart Pablo Kang.

Chanthol arrived for the event in an all-electric Jaguar I-Pace crossover SUV, on which he commented: “It was a wonderful experience. On the one hand it’s just like a normal fuel engine car, and on the other hand, it’s a futuristic car – modern, smooth, quiet, efficient and it handled so well on the road.

“We have to ensure that we have a complete range of infrastructure and services for EVs in Cambodia, including charging stations, service centres with a ready supply of replacement spare parts, trained mechanics and battery disposal facilities.”

In a joint press statement, the Australian and the British embassies underlined that EVs could “empower” the kingdom’s future.

The embassies called for more EV charging units to be installed at homes, offices and public spaces, to allow consumers easy access to charging their vehicles within their daily range.

Rottanak encouraged the acceleration of the synergies between transport electrification and the national electricity grid “to create economic value for consumers and helping decarbonise the transport sector”. — Phnom Penh Post/ANN