Govt plans lithium-ion batteries for e-rickshaws: Amit

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit said on Friday that the government is taking initiatives to replace lead-acid batteries in e-rickshaws with lithium-ion batteries to save electricity, increase drivers’ income and protect the environment.

A pilot project has already been launched in Uttarkhan under an initiative by the Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited (DESCO), he said.

The state minister made the remarks at the biennial conference of the Jashore district unit of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) at the CCTS conference room in Jashore on Friday.

He said lead-acid batteries were heavy, consumed more electricity during charging and posed environmental risks. Although lithium-ion batteries were more expensive, replacing the five heavy lead-acid batteries used in an e-rickshaw with lithium-ion technology could offer a major solution, he added.

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According to Amit, an e-rickshaw running on five lead-acid batteries can travel up to 80 kilometres a day, while lithium-ion batteries would allow it to cover 100 kilometres. This could increase a driver's daily income by Tk 200, he said.

The state minister said pilot projects would gradually be introduced in every city corporation and major district.

On coal-based power generation, he said the government was exploring the possibility of using domestic coal extracted from underground reserves instead of imported coal, while giving due importance to environmental protection.

He said, “People want coal-fired power plants to use environmentally friendly technology. The government is therefore exploring the use of ultra-supercritical technology to minimise environmental damage,” he added.

Amit said importing coal required foreign currency and that the imported coal had a higher sulphur content, causing greater environmental harm. Domestic coal had significantly less sulphur, he said, adding that using it instead of imported coal could play a major role in maintaining environmental balance.