Luang Prabang's electric shuttles spark popular support
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Local people and foreign tourists have supported the use of electric vehicles following a recent public transport trial in the World Heritage town of Luang Prabang.
Some 14 electric vehicles continue to service the town centre instead of tuk-tuks and jumbos with authorities keen to keep air pollution to a minimum. They also hope they will help reduce fuel consumption and ease traffic congestion.
A Luang Prabang provincial Public Works and Transport Department official told Vientiane Times that even though the electric shuttle pilot project ended in July it proved the service could be sustainable on an ongoing basis.
The authorities allow local residents to rent the vehicles for 80,000 kip per vehicle per day and then offer transport services for visitors around the town centre.
Authorities have now also arranged for the vehicles to operate on four longer fixed routes at a cost of either 5,000 or 10,000 kip per journey, an increase from the 3,000 or 5,000 kip charged on shorter routes during the pilot project.
Tuk-tuks and jumbos are still running both in the town and outside, but their fares are higher at 10,000 or 20,000 kip per journey. Authorities are hoping to gradually phase out these vehicles, even in the outer areas of the town.
The electric vehicles are three-wheeled and have two seating configurations to accommodate three and six people. Most visitors like them because they are cheaper and keep air pollution to a minimum, according to the department.
The pilot project was supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The provincial authorities have asked JICA to provide an additional 100 vehicles but no confirmation has yet been received.
