The Ministry of Transport of Tajikistan (MoT) has developed a draft program for development of electric transport in Tajikistan for 2023-2027.
The program, in particular, provides for exempting the import of electric transport from payment of taxes and customs duties.
An official source within a MoT says the draft program is currently at the stage of coordination with the relevant ministries and agencies of the country.
The draft program also provides for creating a wide necessary infrastructure in the country, including electric vehicle charging points.
Currently, owners of electric cars charge their cars at home and they pay for electricity as residential customers – 22.66 dirams (equivalent to 2.2 cents) per 1 kWh of electricity.
Recall, Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament on March 14 this year endorsed amendments offered to the county’s Tax and Customs Codes. The amendments, in particular, provide for exempting the import of electric vehicles, including electric cars, electric buses, trolleybuses, and other vehicles like them, into Tajikistan from payment of taxes and customs duties for the period of ten years.
Against the backdrop of high fuel prices in Tajikistan, electric cars could be a good alternative for the population and the environment.
President Emomali Rahmon in December 2021 proposed to completely waive taxes and customs duties on imports of electric vehicles-electric cars, electric buses, trolleybuses, etc.
He instructed the government to take measures to provide infrastructure and other necessary conditions for the use of such vehicles in the country.
An electric bus, assembled at the Akia Avesto plant in Dushanbe, appeared on the streets of Tajik capital in early December last year.
According to Mr. Asror Mirzoyev, the Executive Director of Akia Avesto Automotive Industry Company, this electric bus can easily travel up to 200 kilometers on a single charge.
A Dushanbe-based taxi company, Yak Tax, has launched a new category on it app through which customers can book an electric vehicle for their rides. A number of electric cabs appeared on the streets of Dushanbe this year. Unlike the usual yellow cabs, Yak Taxi’s electric cabs are painted green.
CABAR.asia says Tajiks who already own an electric car say their use is inexpensive, safe, and environmentally friendly, so the government should encourage the import of electric cars.
Persons, who import cars into Tajikistan, have reportedly imported about 10 electric cars to Tajikistan over the past four years for their own needs.
The price of the cars they imported reportedly ranged from US$20,000 to US$30,000, and the electricity consumption depends on the speed of the vehicle. Electric cars are typical in the city because of low landings and have rarely been used on regional roads.
In Tajikistan, where mostly old foreign cars are in operation, they say their emissions are one of the main sources of air pollution. According to experts, gradually filling the country with electric cars could reduce air pollution.
The gradual increase in electricity generation in Tajikistan reportedly allows increasing the number of electricity-powered vehicles in Tajikistan. Tajik officials say this will reduce the country's dependence on oil-exporting countries.
Tajikistan endowed with rich hydropower resources, hydro potential is estimated to be 527 billion kWh per year. In technical terms, the waterpower resources of Tajikistan have good prospects for the development and consist of 317 billion kWh per year. According to the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan, from 2015 to 2020, the total capacity of the country’s power plants increased from 1,100 to 6,000 MW. It is expected to reach 10,000 MW by 2030.
An electric car or battery electric car is an automobile that is propelled by one or more electric motors, using energy stored in batteries. Compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, electric cars are quieter, have no exhaust emissions, and lower emissions overall.
