Collaboration to accelerate SL along the road to greener, sustainable mobility

By Ifham Nizam

The buzz around carbon markets continues to grow worldwide, however, market growth in Southeast Asia has been relatively mute.

The good news is that Sri Lanka is on the right track, thanks to timely initiatives by Citizens Development Business Finance PLC (CDB) and CodeGen International (Pvt) Ltd. Their ambitious venture aims at bringing in technological solutions for some 5 million vehicles to eradicate carbon foot prints.

CDB yesterday launched the e Shift Concept Center in Colombo 07 as a step to accelerate the Company’s sustainable mobility solutions focused under the Net Zero vertical of CDB’s Sustainability Agenda.

The agreement was signed recently by Managing Director/CEO of CDB Mahesh Nanayakkara and chairman/CEO of CodeGen Dr Harsha Subasinghe.

The collaboration agreement was inked with CodeGen to promote a comprehensive ecosystem for EVs. The Shift Concept Center was launched as landmark initiative in accelerating CDB’s sustainability mobility solutions.

CDB Managing Director /Chief Executive Officer Mahesh Nanayakkara stressed that accelerating sustainable mobility solutions is a key vertical under the Net Zero Pillar within the CDB Sustainability Agenda.

Nanayakkara added: “As a responsible corporate steward we have committed to accelerate sustainable mobility solutions by promoting EVs and EV infrastructure, in addition to knowledge sharing. With over 1 million three wheelers on our roads, carbon emission, oil spillage, noise pollution – all health hazards to drivers, have a massive impact on climate change. The lasting positive impact this initiative can make is unimaginable.”

He also said that the cost of conversion, payable duties, cost of funds and customer conviction to convert vehicles adds to a long list. “But we are confident and committed to travel this path with the help of like-minded people and organizations around the world, joining us to pursue a greener economy. Global warming and climate change is not a global crisis anymore, but a global emergency that needs urgent action.”

Enthusiastic about the partnership between CDB and CodeGen International, Dr Harsha Subasinghe stated, “Together, we’re pioneering a sustainable Sri Lanka powered by EVs, while revolutionizing the three-wheeler industry. Through knowledge sharing on EVs, conversions and charging solutions, we’re electrifying the future, one vehicle at a time. Together, we’re not just innovators; we’re trailblazers in building a greener, more eco-conscious Sri Lanka.”

The Centre is designed to promote Electric Vehicles (EVs) and solar energy solutions here. The e Shift Concept Center is another of the progressive steps taken by this Coalition in which ChargeNET, a subsidiary of CodeGen International, which powers the charging stations at the Center, is a partner. This collaboration accelerates CDB’s sustainability mobility solutions by promoting a comprehensive ecosystem for EVs with a focus on knowledge sharing, EV charging and EV conversion.

“The e Shift Concept Center aims to educate individuals interested in sustainable mobility, while generating interest and stimulating enthusiasm about EVs to the public. While creating an informed awareness about a mindful transformation from fossil fuel-based vehicles to EVs, the Center will be a catalyst in prompting a sustainable shift in Sri Lanka’s transportation sector, which has traditionally been reliant on fossil fuels, said Subasinghe.

He also said that to facilitate this transition, the Center will also offer cutting-edge charging facilities for EVs, enhancing the accessibility and convenience of electric vehicle charging and contributing to the growth of the EV ecosystem in Sri Lanka. With over 1 million three wheelers operating in Sri Lanka – all using fossil fuel – CDB and CodeGen will begin converting three wheelers into EVs.

Powered by solar energy, the Center has two conversion bays and seven charging stations with two of these being fast charging stations solely for three wheelers, marking a first for Sri Lanka. The Center will also have parking facilities for additional EVs.