Mitigation / Adaptation

Social and environmental benefits

Potential for scaling-up and replication

Global: Especially where they replace inefficient and obsolete fossil fuel vehicles, electric vehicles have the potential to significantly decrease the greenhouse gas emissions associated with urban transport. This benefit is particularly great in the case of Colombo and its suburbs, where a significant proportion of the electricity mix is generated from non-emitting hydropower.              

Local: Electric vehicles produce no emissions of toxic air pollution, and their increased use in Colombo can significantly improve the city’s air quality.

Numerous citizens of Colombo are now using pollution free transportation. Unemployed youth were trained to operate, maintain and assemble electric vehicles, which include three wheelers, motor cars, motor cycles and buses.
The activity produced the following benefits:                                  
• Reduced air pollution in the city of Colombo and suburbs by introducing the use of electric vehicles as a sustainable means of transportation;
• Employment for youth;
• Knowledge sharing through an awareness campaign on the benefits of electric vehicles;
• Reduced incidences of respiratory illnesses among the urban population, especially among children and the elderly.

The activity contributed to the evolution of an electric vehicle policy in Sri Lanka. The activity further demonstrated the viability of zero emission electric three wheelers and other electric vehicles as public transport and providing jobs and training to unemployed young people.  After a process of trial and error, the activity was successful in demonstrating its results to the Kandy City officials who now consider using the model for public transport within the city and in the Botanical Gardens. A company was formed under the name "Ceytro Lanka" (pvt.) Ltd. with Australian partners to manufacture three wheeler taxis in Sri Lanka. Prospective buyers will be be the Ministry of Tourism, Kandy Shopping Mall, and private sector eco-friendly hotels. In a second phase of the activity, the Ministry of Transport is considering renewing its fleet of buses with new ones designed to run on electricity. The private sector is currently investing heavily in EV technology across the island. Up-scaling is happening organically by businesses and government, testifying to the practical, effective nature of EVs in the Sri Lankan context.