Samoa gets 76 EVs from UNDP

About 76 EVs worth more than US$6 million have been presented to the Government of Samoa by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) due to a major regional project Samoa is part of, funded by the Government of Japan.

The EVs were supplied by the Ford-Hyundai Samoa company and include 24 sedans, 19 SUVs, 12 pick-up trucks (utes) – two converted to first-responder firefighter trucks, a flat-bed truck converted to an oxygen tanks carrier truck with loading/unloading platform, and 20 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) passenger vans (minibuses). 

Fifty-three EVs will serve as official vehicles to cater for delegates of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) later this month.

EV infrastructure includes 14 wall mounted EV charging stations installed at selected Government premises, five high capacity ground mounted DC type charging stations at the Tuanaimato Bowser, and several public charging stations, such as a solar-powered DC type charging station at the Mulifanua wharf, and the Faleolo and Fagalii airports, as well as other locations.

The Bowser central government charging station is expected to be fully operational later this month. 

The Samoa EV programme was made possible by the Climate Action Pathways for Island Transport (CAP-IT) Project, implemented by the Government of Samoa through the Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure (MWTI), in partnership with UNDP, and funded by Japan. 

“We applaud the fact that this is the first time in the world that some of these EV models have been manufactured and reconfigured to suit our purposes,” says works, transport and infrastructure minister Olo Fiti Afoa Vaai.  

“Most significantly, the procurement of this first lot of EVs for the Government fleet, is our response to the Expected Outcomes of the Pathway to the Development of Samoa 2021 to 2026, in placing emphasis on strengthening and increasing ‘Green Developments’.”

The project aims to promote transformation of the land and maritime transport sectors towards decarbonisation and supports the achievement of Samoa’s enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) which is a climate action plan to cut emissions and adapt to climate impacts for the energy and transport sector by 2030.  

UNDP resident representative Aliona Niculita says the CAP-IT project is a vital part of Samoa’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and promote sustainable mobility solutions across the islands.

Two related studies also launched at the event focussed on end-of-life EV battery management, and traffic volumes, vehicle registration, imports, and ownership.

The two reports – the Baseline Assessment of Samoa’s Transport Sector and the Report on Solutions for the Safe Disposal and Recycling of EV Batteries – will play a critical role in shaping Samoa’s National Transport Decarbonisation Strategy and represent a crucial step towards advancing sustainable transport solutions for the future, says Japan’s Ambassador to Samoa Senta Keisuke.

The CAP-IT project is a component of the Japan-funded regional project ‘Promoting Green Transformation in the Pacific Region towards Net-zero and Climate-Resilient Development, also supporting Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Vanuatu.

The US$36.8 million regional project, with a country allocation of US$15.5 million for Samoa, is scheduled for completion in March 2025.