With strong economic growth in recent years, the number of vehicles has been growing rapidly in Cambodia.  

In 2016, more than 3.2 million vehicles were registered. Motorcycles accounted for 2.7 million vehicles of the total registered vehicles. Vehicle registration has grown at a rate of 14% from 2015 to 2016. In 2015, the transport sector represented over 45% of final energy consumption in Cambodia, entirely from imported petroleum products. As there is no domestic fuel source, the country fully relies on imports. Considering that much of the petroleum products are consumed in transport, there is high potential for positive climate change impact by switching conventional vehicles to greener alternatives. Transitioning away from ICEs (Internal Combustion Engine) to EVs (Electric Vehicles) will contribute to reducing GHG emissions in the congested urban area, together with significant co-benefits such as improvement in air quality, reduction of noise, and positive impacts on public health. Electric motorcycles with a lithium-ion battery are currently more expensive to purchase than gasoline motorcycles, but their total cost of ownership including lifetime operating costs is often lower than that of gasoline motorcycles. This implies that the adoption of electric motorcycles could be accelerated with the right set of supporting policies, if incentive mechanisms are provided to consumers to lessen the burden of higher purchase costs and if consumers’ uncertainty about the performance of electric motorcycles is eased through awareness programs. 

The project objective is to analyze and propose potential opportunities for accelerating the transition to electric motorcycles. GGGI partners with RGC to deliver the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness and Support Project, “Promoting Green Mobility through Electric Motorcycles.” 

Activities of this project include: 

• Situation analysis of the transport sector in Cambodia; 
• Market and technical assessment for e-­motorcycles; 
• Economic, environmental, and social assessment for electrification of motorcycles; 
• Policy and regulatory gap analysis to facilitate the deployment of e-motorcycles; 
• Development of a financing mechanism for the deployment of e­-motorcycles; 
• Assessment of education and communication needs; and 
• An investment project concept note that builds on the above assessment results.

Impact: Reduced GHG emissions improved air quality. 

Outcome: N/A 

Project Outputs completed in 2020: 

i. Green Growth Policies:

Policy analysis and recommendations published in a report “Promoting Green Mobility Through Electric Motorcycles in Cambodia”

ii. Green Investments:N/A

iii. Capacity Building and Knowledge Products:  

•  1 knowledge product – a report “Promoting Green Mobility Through Electric Motorcycles in Cambodia”

Project Manager: Karolien Casaer 

Chang Sun Jan, Putheary Kuy, Sut Samedy, Stella Seung-Yeon Lee, Sovanchandara Heng, Dara Sokh