Reinventing the Wheels: 2- and 3-wheelers at the forefront of vehicle electrification

Organisers: Uber & Shared Use Mobility Center

Transport is the primary contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in cities worldwide. In response, policy efforts to green transport have largely focused on electrifying larger vehicles such as cars, buses, and trucks. But in many cities, particularly in the Global South, a majority of motorised trips happen on small 2- and 3-wheeled vehicles. In fact, there are at least half a billion motorized 2- and 3-wheelers in the world today. It’s therefore essential that policy makers turn their attention towards these smaller vehicles as an important tool in electrifying urban transportation systems and slashing emissions levels.

This session will explore in depth the understudied yet high-impact world of 2- and 3-wheel electrification. The panel, consisting of some of the world’s leading experts on the topic, will define the challenges that exist today in greening this massive vehicle population, including barriers to charging infrastructure, high vehicle costs, and more. Panelists will then identify some promising signals towards 2- and 3-wheel electrification, including innovative policies and financing initiatives, the expansion of battery-swap technology, and more. Finally, they will make recommendations for what governments and vehicle manufacturers can do going forward to accelerate the adoption of electric 2- and 3-wheelers.

SPEAKERS

• Annika Berlin, Programme Management Officer, Sustainable Mobility Unit, UNEP
• Simon Roberts, Technical Lead, Transport & Urban Planning, C40
• Nikki Rudnick, Policy Manager, Sustainable Mobility, Uber
• Marie McNamera, Manager, India Program, RMI

Moderator: Andrea San Gil León, Executive Director, Global Network for Popular Transport