Sri Lanka: #3xRenewables for Clean Air and Lower Energy Costs

A quiet revolution is happening on the streets of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

There is a new type of public transport running around the city. Locally known as tuk-tuks, these three-wheelers are no stranger to Sri Lankans, but these ones look quite different.

The new type of tuk-tuks certainly stand out in the crowd, but it is the low energy and maintenance costs that attract drivers.

“After replacing my traditional tuk-tuk with the electric one, I no longer struggle with the high petrol and maintenance costs,” says Pradeep Suranga. “There are charging stations in almost all main cities around Colombo. This three-wheeler can ride up to 150 km with a single charging.”

The longer distance reached by the tuk-tuks allows them to serve last-mile communities, providing them with delivery services.

As the electric tuk-tuks can carry heavier load, they can serve as a courier vehicle, too. Drivers can go to farms, collect the crops, and bring them to town.

The electric tuk-tuks also give a more comfortable experience to both drivers and passengers. The shock absorber allows a much less bumpy ride compared to the traditional tuk-tuks. More importantly, they emit no polluting gas, and ride without any noise.

“I keep getting good feedback from customers, so I get more private orders these days, increasing my income,” explains Pradeep again.

With solar panels powering the charging stations, the tuk-tuks save about 75% on carbon footprint. This certainly contributes to the country’s carbon neutrality goal.

The story of the electric tuk-tuks is about taking a step change towards sustainability.

More policy support is needed to scale up these tuk-tuks, but as Dr. Harsha Subasinghe, the president of the company that produces them, says, “With our government’s mandate to increase sustainable initiatives, I think a shift is already happening in our society. People are adapting to more, sustainable initiatives, so I see positive change going forward.”

Find out more about unlocking the benefits of energy transition and the #3xRenewables – for the planet and its people campaign.