In a bid to minimise environmental and noise pollution in the capital, a local company will launch electric vehicles, the first of its kind in the country, by the end of this month.
"We have already imported some vehicles for trial and are going to launch these vehicles in the city by this month. Now we look forward to go-ahead from the authority concerned," said Niaz Rahim, director of Rahimafrooz (Bangladesh) Limited.
These electric vehicles would be popular if the government cuts duty on these items to promote environment-friendly transports in the he ^afty ^tar
country, he said.
Initially, the company plans release of two- and three-wheelers on trial. These vehicles will be battery-run and have zero emission and minimal noise. Driven by DC motors running on battery, the vehicles will travel 35 to 40 km per hour and cover a distance of 80 km with a single charge.
The battery recharging and maintenance cost will be by far lower than the current fuel cost. If the government and people can fathom the severity of pollution-related problems, this initiative would help lower the pollution level in the city, Niaz Rahim said.
"These battery-driven vehicles would reduce the number of polluting public vehicles. Motorcycles, baby taxis, and tempos won't run on diesel," added the director.
Rahimafrooz Batteries Ltd., an ISO 9002 certified company, is the largest lead-acid battery manufacturer ever in Bangladesh, producing extensive range of automotive and specialised industrial battery. The manufacturing of over 300 different types of batteries with excellent export growth record has put the company in the front line as a regional player in South Asia.
Industrial Batteries Ltd. (IBL), a subsidiary of Rahimafrooz Batteries Ltd., is the manufacture of lead-acid specialised industrial batteries with capacities ranging from 20AH to 2500AH in a single cell. The batteries are used in telecommunications, power stations, railway systems, electric vehicles, forklift trucks, ships, buoy lighting and solar power systems.
"We are now in 17 countries and export is going up. We opened our first international office in Ahmedabad, India in January 2000. We have been marketing our batteries under the brand name Volta for two years in India and have achieved an extensive distribution network of 350 dealers all over India."
The company has an extensive distribution and a network of dealers in Europe, the USA, Middle East and South East Asia. It earns three million US dollars per year by exporting its Volta brand batteries to different countries.
"The world is gradually converging towards non-conventional, renewable energy sources. Rahimafrooz has dedicated itself to making that transition possible in Bangladesh," said Niaz Rahim.