Junta to build more electric vehicle charging stations

08 February 2023
Junta to build more electric vehicle charging stations
A car drives past a newly-built public electric vehicle charging station. Photo: EPA

Electric vehicle (EV) charging points will be installed on busy roads and in urban areas in Myanmar, according to the junta leader, Min Aung Hlaing.

He made the claim at meeting of Yangon industrialists and bosses of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) at the Hlaing Tharyar Industrial Zone on 5 February.

"To enable the import of electric vehicles, we have reduced the tax rate, and we are starting to establish charging stations for EVs. We will increase the number of charging stations so that they cover busy streets and urban areas," Min Aung Hlaing said.

He added that electrically powered public transport will be introduced if sufficient electricity can be produced.

To help with that he said that the regime is working on solar and wind power generation projects to provide sufficient electricity to cities.

Unfortunately, there is currently not even enough electricity to cover demand in the upcoming summer months. U Thaung Han, the junta Minister of Electricity and Energy said that electricity will have to be rationed over the summer.

Min Aung Hlaing also has to frequently call on the public to conserve electricity, water, and fuel in the face of frequent power outages in Myanmar.

To boost its EV sector, in June 2022 the Myanmar junta established the National-level Leading Committee on Development of Electric Vehicles and Related Business which is made up of five working committees. it will focus on importing EVs, manufacturing EVs in Myanmar and building more charging stations throughout the country.

As part of this effort, ten imported Chinese BYD e2 cars will be used as electric taxis in Yangon, and another ten will be used as taxis in the capital, Napyita