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State Minister for Power and Energy Nasrul Hamid said on Thursday that the return from battery-run autorickshaws is manifold compared to the electricity they use.
“I call these 4 million three-wheelers the Tesla of Bangla. They are using their own creativity to build these. We are not stopping them,” he said in reference to American electric carmaker Tesla.
The state minister said this in Parliament while responding to a supplementary question of ruling party MP elected from Narayanganj, Shamim Osman.
“It may have mechanical faults. The return is much higher compared to the electricity that they are using. About 4 million (40 lakh) rickshawpullers who are using electricity are earning,” he said.
He said the government is trying to move from lead batteries to lithium batteries.
“We are working on a project regarding this matter. We will supply them with lithium batteries and take away the lead batteries,” he said.
Osman, in his supplementary question, said that the battery-operated autorickshaws are running, and they are very dangerous and should not be allowed to run.
He said that these autorickshaws steal 90 per cent of their electricity for charging batteries.
“They are consuming 700–800 MW of our electricity. Do you take any special initiative to stop them all over the country?” he asked.
In reply, Hamid said that there is a revolution going on now all over the world in terms of how quickly the transport system can be transformed into electric vehicles.
He mentioned that the efficiency of an oil-powered car is 20 per cent. On the other hand, the efficiency level of the electricity-run engine is 80 per cent.
"Basically, we encourage electric cars to come to market as fast as possible.”
He mentioned that if it takes Tk 100 to go a distance in an oil-powered vehicle, it will take Tk 20 to go that distance in an electricity-run vehicle.
“There are over 4 million (40 lakh) vehicles in Bangladesh that use lead batteries. It takes 7/8 hours to charge them. If there are lithium batteries, it will take only half-an-hour,” he said.
The state minister said that the Power Division has made it a policy to set up electric vehicle charging stations. According to this policy, anyone can make a charge station.
He said that public transport (buses) in Bangladesh should be transformed into electricity-run vehicles quickly.
“It will be cheaper and more environmentally friendly,” he said.
Hamid said that Bangladesh’s transport sector emits 18 per cent of carbon.
However, he said, there is concern about the illegal use of electricity.
“We are concerned about it. Electricity companies are keeping an eye on whether illegal electricity is being used anywhere. Most are now using meters instead of taking electricity illegally,” he said.