The future is here. New generation vehicles about to change our land transport industry and contribute positively to the environment are now running on our roads.

The Zippee five-seater approved by authorities is the first three-wheeler vehicle launched yesterday by the Minister for Transport & Infrastructure Parveen Bala.

The arrival of these Japanese-made vehicles that’s become a success on roads in India, Indonesia and the Philippines has been made possible by seasoned transport player Arvind Maharaj.

Mr Maharaj said energy efficient and environmentally-sustainable vehicles has been made possible through his company VKJ Global Limited.

Be it for private use or public, Mr Maharaj is in talks with the manufacturers for assembling of the Zippee vehicles here too. This is to sell it to the local market and reach out to Pacific islands as well.

The initial investment is about $50,000 for both the units and the components needed for the company’s evaluation purposes.

At Holiday Inn Suva Mr Maharaj told guests: “As you are aware, there has been much publicity around the world to save our planet. So sustain it for our future generations.”

He added there had never been a better time to invest in technology that will reduce our dependency on fossil fuel.

“We look at this opportunity as a stepping stone getting into more electric mobility vehicles in the future and of course the bus is under production.”

“We are also serious about mitigating climate change impacts to our region.”

Battery use

Currently the vehicle battery is rechargeable using the Fiji Electricity Authority grid.

However, the company plans to take its energy dependency to solar energy and battery storage for charging of all electric vehicle batteries in the not-too-distant future.

The Zippee can be charged using solar energy now by hooking up with solar panels.

But this is only the beginning of what Mr Maharaj has termed as ‘exciting times’.

The next big thing, the qualified IT expert says, is that in the next few months, a 55-seater pure electric coach bus will arrive.

This investment as Mr Maharaj had announced at the Fiji National Transport Consultative Forum the past year is about $500,000.

The bus has the capacity to save up to 60 per cent spent on fossil fuel within five years.

Mr Bala acknowledged the initiative by the company adding: “The introduction of such efficient and zero emission vehicles will assist Government to accelerate the attainment of its medium to long-term sustainable development plans.

“I am glad that today’s baby step is the beginning of the paradigm shift to support this national-level move towards ‘noise and pollution-free vehicle’.”

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