Throughout February, GGGI Cambodia delivered Cambodia’s first Sustainable E-mobility Campaign to raise awareness about the benefits of electric vehicles (EVs). From online guest lectures at universities and pop-up events to a social media campaign and photo competition, the campaign has been a lesson in awareness-raising in the age of Covid19 restrictions. The campaign was able to reach thousands of people through Facebook, Twitter, and on-site events.

The campaign was co-organized by GGGI, the National Council for Sustainable Development (NCSD), and EnergyLab Cambodia, a non-profit organization that supports the growth of the clean energy market. It was made possible by co-funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Cambodia Climate Change Alliance (CCCA).

In 2019, the NCSD obtained funding for a GCF readiness project aiming to promote green mobility through electric vehicles, and GGGI was nominated as the delivery partner. An in-depth assessment of Cambodia’s EV market revealed a communication gap and user surveys suggested that a lack of awareness and trust in EV technology contributes to the low uptake of e-mobility in the country. A first Sustainable E-mobility campaign was formulated in response. The Ministry of Public Works and Transport plans further initiatives, including switching vehicle fleets of public and private institutions to electric alternatives.

Pop-up Events

Pop-up events were held across Phnom Penh to increase the public’s exposure to EVs and give them the opportunity to test this emerging technology. Taking place in open-air venues, in small groups, on multiple days, and following safety procedures, these events were adapted to follow Covid-19 precautions. A social media influencer enthusiastically test drove many vehicles and boosted online visibility of the event among the target audience – students and young professionals. A recent surge in Covid19 still led to the postponement of some of the planned pop-ups, but a number of universities and ministries have expressed an interest in hosting pop-ups in the future.

The environmental and economic benefits of e-mobility were also communicated through videos and interviews. GGGI’s Karolien Casaer-Diez explained why she chooses to drive electric, Professor Kim Bunthern from the Institute of Technology Cambodia (ITC) showed us his lab where he is working on a solar-powered e-tuk-tuk, and we showed some of the coolest electric motorbikes on the market in Cambodia.

Event photo #1
Event photo #2

Guest Lectures

Engaging with students was a key priority during the campaign as our assessment revealed that they are one of the target demographics for EVs in Cambodia. GGGI’s Sustainable Transport Lead, Chang Sun Jang, gave an informative virtual lecture to students at the Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC) on the future of electric mobility and transport strategy.

Alice Brown, a consultant at GGGI, GGGI Cambodia Country Representative, Karolien Casaer-Diez, and EnergyLab’s Clean Energy and Mobility Engagement Coordinator, Sokphalkun Out, gave a virtual lecture to students at the American University of Phnom Penh. The students in Sustainable Development engaged in discussions about the future of electric mobility in Cambodia and the role of clean energy.

Chang Sun Jang (GGGI), Karolien Casaer-Diez (GGGI), and Professor Kim Bunthern (ITC) during the guest lecture at ITC.

Thank you to everyone involved in the Sustainable E-mobility campaign for your hard work, including EnergyLab Cambodia, the Ministry of Environment and the NCSD, the Institute of Technology Cambodia, the American University of Phnom Penh, the Green Climate Fund, and the Cambodian Climate Change Alliance.