Japan to initiate EV plant for smart tuk-tuk, micro power stations

While opening a new chapter in Sri Lankan automotive industry, a Tokyobased high-tech research and development organization is planning the first ever industry scale Electric tuk-tuk manufacturing facility in Sri Lanka, Ministry of Industry and Commerce said.

Speaking at the event Minister Rishad Bathiudeen said the start up from Tokyo was also setting up an international standard EV (Electric Vehicle) charging systems known as “micro-grid” stations across the country, as part of their hi-tech transfer to Sri Lanka. A top Japanese investment team consisting of key executives of Tokyo’s Future Science Research Inc (FSRI), along with high ranking former Japanese officials arrived in the country for the project’s initial groundwork.

The proposed EV manufacturing operation was to take off by producing Sri Lanka’s first ever smart, “EV tuk-tuks.”

“We are not looking for conventional production or assembly either. We want to go with cutting edge technology. We look to team up with many Lankan firms as joint ventures.

As a start, we are looking to launch the local EV industry by introducing new innovations to Sri Lankan vehicle market. Our entire (proposed) output is for the Sri Lankan market and we can consider exports after meeting local market requirements.

One of the major advantages for Sri Lanka by enlisting our company is that, unlike large global vehicle manufacturing corporations, we are quick to respond to the market.” Future Science Research Inc. (FSRI) Akihito Matsumura added.

Matsumura added that his team’s arrival in Colombo is also due to the favourable impressions he received about Sri Lanka from President Maithripala Sirisena’s recent visit to Japan. “We use the world’s latest technology to create EV batteries for small class EVS.WE propose to start Sri Lanka’s first ever eco-green EV threewheeler and motorbike production facility and that will also be our first ever venture producing full EVS by ourselves anywhere in the world outside of Japan,” Matsumura added.

There are 85 Japanese private sector projects in operation in Sri Lanka at present. Among the sectors of Japanese investments here are semi-conductors, printed circuit boards, safety sensors, ceramic products, cement, apparel, building and repairing of ships, power and tourism, infrastructure and logistics.