Resident Coordinator's Remarks at Global Electric Two- and Three-Wheeler Conference

I am pleased to join you at this first-ever global conference on electric two- and three-wheelers to advance decarbonizing transportation.

This is a critical agenda as there are around half a billion motorized two- and three-wheelers on roads globally, responsible for about a tenth of all transport-related energy use.

We have gathered today to transform the future by scaling up electric mobility across Thailand, the region, and the planet.

I would like to extend a warm welcome to Ambassador Ernst Reichel of Germany and commend your government for its unwavering support to the UN’s efforts in advancing sustainable mobility.

Let me also thank all the participants at this important conference. You are at the vanguard of transformative changes and your expertise will be critical for greening transportation.

As you know, two- and three-wheelers remain the primary mode of transport for hundreds of millions of people.

In this region, Vietnam stands out for two-wheelers with 65 million registered motorcycles. It is the second-largest market after China where there are 81 million of these vehicles.

In Thailand, there are nearly 22 million two-wheelers which together release 3.7% of the country’s GHGs.

In Africa, electric two- and three-wheelers dominate transportation and a revolution in sustainable passenger mobility is taking root through broad-based public-private partnerships.

Switching all motorcycles to electric versions from Asia to Africa will have profound implications for climate and air quality.

It will also be transformative for people, especially those most vulnerable, in our ongoing efforts to leave no one behind.

Taking this transformation to scale will require aligning partnerships between the private sector, utility companies and regulators.

Leading manufacturers in the private sector need to invest in improving technology and reducing costs to make EV two-wheelers more competitive.

Some of them are already demonstrating that private businesses can be leaders of change even as they mind their bottom lines.

Similarly important is the support of utility companies as they play a key role in providing charging infrastructure while developing and growing an ecosystem of battery-swapping stations for use by all. 

The third wheel in this transformation involves regulators who can remove barriers to broad-scale electric transitions through targeted policies and tax breaks to facilitate forward-looking business strategies.

In Thailand, the government is taking the necessary steps to speed up the transition to electric mobility.

This includes the “30 by 30” policy, targeting 30% of domestically produced vehicles to be zero-emission by 2030.

The government provides incentives and tax breaks to encourage EV adoption, including purchase subsidies, exemptions from import duties and excise taxes, and reductions in road taxes and registration fees.

In partnership with private business, a utility company and municipal authorities the UN is piloting a UNEP-led initiative in Bangkok by equipping 50 motorcycle taxi drivers with new electric vehicles.

The purpose of this pilot is to bolster the evidence base to get a workable business model. This includes gaining a better understanding of two-wheeler users’ behaviors and how to make the backend operations of charging, battery swapping and financing more efficient.

The findings will enable us to take a similar initiative to scale in Rayong province where UNIDO is working with the municipality in the Eastern Economic Corridor to introduce electric Songthaews, testing a business model where these vehicles will serve on feeder routes.

Together these pilots are laying the groundwork for a whole new world of electric mobility for two- and three-wheelers across the country.

However, for maximum impact, we must take this revolution global through South-South Triangular Cooperation.

This conference serves as a platform for deepening collaborations and enhancing knowledge flows across the Global South.

It is a testament to the collaborative efforts of diverse stakeholders, including governments, academia, private enterprises, and NGOs, some of whom are present here today.

I am very much looking forward to all the exchanges and insights as we set out at full speed towards a bright future for electric two- and three-wheelers.

Thank you.