Bangladesh approved the registration of electric vehicles (EVs) in 2020. The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) registered the first EV in October 2021. As of March 13 this year, nearly five years after the approval, only 396 electric vehicles have been registered across the country.

An analysis of BRTA data shows that among these registered vehicles, there are 243 motorcycles, 94 hardtop jeeps, 54 private cars, three microbuses, and one each of delivery vans and auto-rickshaws.

Over the past five years, the number of electric vehicles introduced in Bangladesh has been minimal compared to the demand. Experts say the growth of electric vehicles in the country is being hindered by the lack of necessary infrastructure and high import duties.

Professor Dr. Ziaur Rahman Khan from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) told Bonik Barta, “Electric vehicles are a new technology for Bangladesh. It will take time for people to adopt it.”

He added that without sufficient charging stations and repair workshops, people would be hesitant to buy EVs. “In other countries, incentives are provided to promote electric vehicles. Although Bangladesh has introduced tax exemptions, the overall cost is still high. Alongside tax relief and incentives, establishing adequate infrastructure is essential for popularizing EVs in the country,” he said.

In 2023, the government introduced the ‘Policy on Registration and Movement of Electric Motor Vehicles’ to promote EV usage. The policy states that by 2030, at least 30 percent of vehicles in the road transport sector should be electric.

The policy defines electric vehicles as motor vehicles powered by one or more electric motors, using stored electric charge or connected batteries. However, bicycles and rickshaw vans are excluded from this definition.

The policy also clarifies that only motor vehicle categories registered under BRTA will be eligible for electric registration. BRTA officials stated that battery-powered rickshaws and three-wheelers currently operating on roads will not be considered electric vehicles under this policy.

In the past, the government had initiated two projects to procure electric buses through the state-run Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC). One project aimed to buy 100 electric buses but was later postponed. Although there were plans to purchase electric buses for the Airport-Gazipur BRT corridor, diesel-powered buses are now being procured instead.

According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, there is currently a plan to purchase 10-12 electric buses for BRTC under government financing. Additionally, a World Bank-funded initiative is underway to procure 500 electric buses for Dhaka. The project timeline is from July 1 of 2025 to June 30 of 2030. The World Bank estimates that the collection of buses, construction of depots, implementation of an intelligent transport system (ITS), and restructuring of bus services will cost between $110 million and $150 million.

BRTA Chairman Md Yasin told Bonik Barta that the government is actively working to promote electric vehicles. “Several government agencies, including the Ministry of Commerce, National Board of Revenue, and Energy Division, have been taking various initiatives. BRTA’s responsibility is limited to vehicle registration and regulating their operation,” he said.

He added that the government is coordinating with all stakeholders to implement the necessary steps for advancing electric vehicle adoption in Bangladesh.