Phnom Penh: The Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) recorded the registration of 2,253 electric vehicles (EVs) in 2024, representing a substantial rise of 620 percent from the 313 EVs registered in 2023.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, China's BYD leads the EV market in Cambodia, followed by Japan's Toyota, and America's Tesla. The ministry's report highlights the growing popularity of EVs in Cambodia as part of a significant global trend. The ministry's Spokesperson, H.E. Phorn Rim, noted that the increase in EV usage aligns with global trends, and Cambodia is experiencing its own development in the EV sector.
The adoption of EVs has significantly contributed to reducing carbon dioxide emissions from petrol-powered vehicles. Additionally, EVs offer savings on fuel costs and produce low or zero emissions. Currently, Cambodia has 21 EV charging stations, and the Royal Government aims to achieve 40 percent of electric cars and urban buses, and 70 percent of electric motorbikes by 2050 to further reduce carbon emissions.
The National Policy for the Development of EVs in Cambodia states that using EVs costs only 9,633 Riel (US$2.34) for a distance of 100 kilometers, compared to 35,723 Riel (US$8.69) for petrol or diesel cars. In contrast, the ministry registered 413,067 gasoline-powered vehicles last year, with motorcycles accounting for the largest share at 353,603 units, followed by light vehicles with 54,692 units, and heavy vehicles with 5,841 units.