As the usage of electric vehicles increased worldwide, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) organised an inter-ministerial workshop to support the development of policies for the use of electric vehicles in Cambodia.
Through its long-term carbon-neutral development strategy, Cambodia is committed to boosting the use of electric cars and buses by 40 percent and motorcycles by 70 percent by 2050.
At the same time, experts pointed out that it is time for Cambodia to promote electric vehicles to solve air pollution. In Cambodia, the main contributors to air pollution include road dust, mining, power generation and traffic congestion.
Chhoun Voun, Director-general of the Ministry’s General Department of Land Transport, told Khmer Times that the environmental impact of the number of vehicles is also increasing significantly.
“Under the leadership of the Senior Minister, the General Department of Land Transport is advised to promote the use of electric vehicles to reduce vehicle pollution. UNDP’s support for electric vehicles and infrastructure expansion will help four locations: the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Battambang Province, Siem Reap Province and Sihanoukville City.
“Furthermore, it plans to cooperate with gas stations and major companies on major roads such as Expressway and promote at shopping malls and apartments. We are cooperating with the Ministry of Economy and Finance to reduce the import tax on electric vehicles by half,” he added.
Researchers in the EV sector agree that the growing number of vehicles in Cambodia poses an increasing threat to public health and the environment.
Ky Sereyvath, Director of the China Study Center of the Royal Academy of Cambodia told Khmer Times, “We are talking about the cost of buying a battery vehicle with a high price. High-income people can afford electric vehicles. However, low-income people still use fuel-efficient cars. But for the future, the Cambodian government is encouraging the use of electric vehicles with lower tax rates, while vehicles using fuel have higher tax rates.”
According to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, by the end of 2021, more than six million vehicles had been officially registered.
This article was first published in Khmer Times. All contents and images are copyright to their respective owners and sources.
