eTukTuk recognises the lack of EV charging stations in developing countries. Our blockchain solution aims to address this, by providing a network of charging stations throughout these regions to benefit people and the environment simultaneously.

TukTuks are responsible for transporting local people and visitors. They underpin sectors like the tourist industry in many regions across the globe and are too numerous to count on busy urban streets. According to the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), Asian markets, in particular, reflect a pronounced partiality in the use of this type of vehicle [1]. Yet, TukTuks, which have been the backbone of many nations across the globe to date, are fundamental to turmoil within the cities and suburbs of developing regions.

The transportation sector is hanging on by a thread. The system is causing significant problems across the globe, with the keenest sting felt in developing regions. Rising fuel costs across the globe (by as much as 50% in some areas) mean that drivers are unable to refuel their vehicles. Restrictions on the amount of fuel available to buy now exist within certain countries in South Asia [2].

A Leading Cause of GHGs.

Transportation is the accelerator for global greenhouse gases. We already know that two- and three-wheeler vehicles emit more CO₂ than cars [3]. Their density makes them notable contributors to the 16% of carbon dioxide emissions from the transportation sector recently recorded [4]. The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) states that transportation represents the largest end-use of energy in developed countries. It is the fastest-growing sector within low- to middle-income nations [5]. The scales are tipping for the latter, however, because of the lack of sustainable and innovative solutions that could spark the reduction in air pollution. Right now, as much as 63% of carbon emissions emanate from the developing world [6], leaving little doubt that innovation is the only way ahead to reduce emissions. This solution will also provide a sustainable alternative to ensure the longevity of functionality for the transportation sector in the future. 

In the wake of exponential social and economic challenges across the globe, climate change is accelerating, fast. Many Governments are currently searching for immediately scalable alternatives to plug the gap in equitable and sustainable transportation solutions. Electric vehicles are the identifiable solution in many countries, including the ASEAN 7, where new national policies highlight the need to replace 100% of state-owned vehicles, passenger cars, and all two- and three-wheelers by 2025 with battery-operated electric vehicles or hybrid models [7]. These vehicles also require EV charging stations to eliminate any barriers to entry for new buyers.

A Lack of EV Charging Stations.

An immediate solution is required for a positive step forward, not just for the environment, but for local economies that need equitable transportation solutions to help keep them mobilised. However, right now, there is just no infrastructure in place to support such ambitions. Electric vehicle charging in most developing countries is almost non-existent. So, how will developing nations transfer from fossil fuels to EVs in such a short space of time?

When it comes to electric vehicles and the potential positive impact on climate change, it is no secret that the answer to the carbon emissions question mark looming over humanity’s heads can be found in the battery operation of EVs. eTukTuk’s Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) also known as the eTukTuk Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV), in particular, will allow the swap from Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) fossil fuel vehicles, setting the ball rolling on the immediate and strategic reduction of air pollution globally.

Transportation infrastructure varies greatly in regions around the globe. Whilst a minority of developing countries have EV charging stations, (like China, for example), most well-developed and efficient solutions exist within developed nations. However, there is a distinct lack of charging infrastructure throughout developing countries, which will mean that the compulsory switch to electric vehicles will not be possible.

Price is a Factor. 

According to the IEA, “Sales in developing and emerging countries have been slow due to higher purchase costs and a lack of charging infrastructure availability,” [4]. To date, electric vehicles have been prohibitively expensive, particularly for people in low- to middle-income countries. This factor, coupled with the distinct lack of charging stations means that there is no accessibility to meet the standards laid out in Governmental policies. There can be no access to a clean and sustainable alternative without innovative technology and a charging supply to mobilise the solution. 

What About Private Chargers?

Since there is a low saturation of publicly available EV charging stations in these regions, you would think that drivers would have access to purchasing private models for personal use. This is not so. 

Financial exclusion or disparity is the main barrier to entry for all adopters of electric vehicles and the main reason behind the unlikely event that individuals could afford charging stations of their own. “Financial inclusion has become one of the most critical issues in monetary policy […]. There is a need to provide an adequate level of financial inclusion in the least developed countries, without which individuals and companies are unable to fully participate in the national economy.” (Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 2021.) This needs to change. People everywhere, deserve clean, safe, and fair alternatives to transportation; not just to help them meet targets, but to provide them with a sustainable future that is reliable, efficient, and mutually beneficial for everyone. That is where eTukTuk comes in.

eTukTuk’s Vision.

Tackling health, environmental, and equity issues are the challenges that eTukTuk is designed to solve. eTukTuk’s vision is that our unique ecosystem can provide the answers. “In the developing world, the demand for mobility for people and goods grows significantly each year,” [1]. This requires a realistic solution that can tackle this problem first, whilst answering the call for climate change and financial inclusivity. eTukTuk is ready to deploy EV charging stations in the places that need it most.

Built on the blockchain, eTukTuk’s solution will reduce financial exclusion by giving people a digital identity, where the option of becoming banked is not possible. This will allow everyone to have access to the affordable solution that has the potential to put an end to many of our planet’s biggest social and economic problems to date.

By scaling our operations throughout the cities and suburbs of developing countries, eTukTuk will also alleviate range anxiety. We will provide a system that is accessible to anyone with an eTukTuk or a compatible EV can use. With our strong, future-proof network that users will benefit financially from, ICE fossil fuel TukTuks will be replaced. It is our mission to banish the problems they inflict on the developing world.

So, What Does EV Charging Station Standardisation Look Like?

The installation of charging stations, particularly with frequency and availability, increases the opportunity for drivers to take longer trips. It encourages the wider adoption and purchase of EVs. It also tackles EV range anxiety – all major barriers to entry. Once we begin installing a high frequency of stations in urban areas, the current reliance on ICE vehicles and fossil fuels will diminish. This will forge a dependence on eTukTuk’s sustainable and equitable solution; helping to alleviate carbon emissions and severing the ties that bind us to fossil fuels.

The success of the adoption of electric vehicles is highly dependent on the scalability and accessibility of charging stations that will alleviate or altogether eliminate many of the barriers to entry that drivers are currently facing.

Charging Stations are the Future.

EVs operated by small enterprise owners give cities the unrivalled potential to rein in carbon emissions. Their use in providing mass transportation solutions means that fewer cars need to be on the road, and with regularly accessible charging stations, eTukTuk is the entity that can provide the assurance for drivers and for their passengers, that carbon emissions are a thing of the past. People will no longer have to suffer through unmanageable price hikes. Instead, they will enjoy stability in energy prices, the longevity of supply, and the financial opportunity that arises from the digital identity that being an eTukTuk adopter on the Cardano blockchain provides.

References

• [1] ICCT. (2007). Air Emissions from Two- and Three-Wheelers: Initial Issues Assessment. URL: https://://theicct.org/publication/air-emissions-from-two-and-three-wheelers-initial-issues-assessment/. Accessed 23rd October 2022.
• [2] Reuters. (2022). Sri Lanka to Restrict Fuel Imports for the Next 12 Months. URL: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/sri-lanka-restrict-fuel-imports-next-12-months-2022-07-25/. Accessed: 30th October 2022.
• [3] UNEP. (2021). Electric Two and Three-Wheelers. URL: https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/transport/what-we-do/electric-mobility/electric-two-and-three-wheelers. Accessed 25th October 2022.
• [4] IEA. (2022). Electric Vehicles. URL: https://www.iea.org/reports/electric-vehicles. Accessed: 1st November 2022.
• [5] ISSD. (2021). The Road to Sustainable Transport. URL: https://www.iisd.org/articles/deep-dive/road-sustainable-transport#:~:text=In%20the%20developing%20world%2C%20the%20demand%20for%20mobility,reliable%20and%20affordable%20public%20transportation%20%28HLAG-ST%2C%202016%2C%20p.10%29. Accessed 25th October 2022.
• [6] CGDEV. (2022). Developing Countries Are Responsible for 63 Percent of Current Carbon Emissions. URL: https://www.cgdev.org/media/developing-countries-are-responsible-63-percent-current-carbon-emissions. Accessed 20th October 2022.
• [7] ICCT. (2022). Zero-Emission Vehicle Deployment: Europe, Middle East, and Central and South Asia. URL: https://theicct.org/publication/hvs-zev-deploy-eurasia-apr22/. Accessed: 4th November 2022.