Bangladesh plans EV charging network and first battery recycling plant by 2030

Image- Collected

The government has launched an initiative to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure and establish a battery recycling plant by 2030, as efforts to promote electric mobility gain momentum following tax incentives for electric vehicle production and imports.

The Road Transport and Highways Division is preparing a project titled “Bangladesh Enabling Electric Vehicles Adoption in the Framework of Sustainable Energy-Based Transportation” with financial support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The proposed project is estimated to cost Tk25.35 crore, including a Tk23 crore grant from the UNDP. The initiative will focus on developing charging infrastructure for electric buses, motorcycles and three-wheelers, while also creating a skilled workforce through training programmes at home and abroad.

The project plans to initially establish four superfast charging stations for electric buses at Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation depots. Each station will have a capacity of 300–500 kilowatts and be capable of charging 20 buses simultaneously.

Potential locations include BRTC depots in Jowar Sahara, Mirpur, Gabtoli, Narayanganj and Narsingdi.

Three solar-hybrid charging stations for electric motorcycles and three-wheelers are also planned at Uthali in Manikganj, Ekuria in Keraniganj and the BRTC depot in Chattogram. These stations will use both grid electricity and solar power.

The two- and three-wheeler charging stations will have a capacity of 80 kilowatts, with solar power contributing between 25 and 30 kilowatts.

The government also plans to establish the country's first electric vehicle battery recycling and disposal plant at a BRTC depot in Gazipur.

The initiative comes as the government works to expand electric transport across the country. BRTC has sought Tk400 crore to purchase 100 electric buses and establish 25 charging stations. Another 12 air-conditioned electric buses with 50 seats each are also planned for procurement with government funding.

The state-owned transport operator is also planning to acquire 400 additional electric buses under the proposed Bangladesh Clean Air Project, for which the World Bank has offered a $300 million loan.

The Finance Ministry has also directed that government sport utility vehicles and cars purchased under the current fiscal year's budget must be electric vehicles.

According to the draft project proposal, Bangladesh has around 15 lakh electric two- and three-wheelers, along with thousands of plug-in hybrid vehicles, most of which are charged at homes and garages.

The country currently has only 14 electric vehicle charging points, with a combined capacity of 242 kilowatts. However, these facilities are considered unsuitable for high-load commercial operations.

The government has set a target of establishing 1,200 commercial charging stations by 2030. The Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority is responsible for preparing the regulatory framework and implementation guidelines.

Although 32 commercial charging stations have already received approval, only nine are currently operational in locations including Dhaka, Chattogram, Cox's Bazar and Cumilla.

Private sector interest in the electric vehicle industry has also increased following the introduction of EV-friendly policies in the national budget. Several companies have expressed interest in manufacturing electric vehicles and developing charging infrastructure.