Electric three-wheelers (E3Ws) have become a widely used mode of urban transport in Bangladesh, responding to the growing demand for affordable and accessible mobility in densely populated cities. However, despite their considerable potential, the rapid and largely unregulated expansion of E3Ws has created substantial challenges for urban public transport systems. These include increasing traffic congestion, heightened road safety risks, weak institutional oversight, and serious health and environmental impacts, most notably those arising from the improper handling and recycling of used lead-acid batteries (ULABs). The absence of standardised manufacturing, licensing, and operational frameworks has further intensified these problems, enabling E3Ws to operate beyond designated corridors and outside formal regulatory control.
Authors: Khondaker Golam Moazzem, Md. Khalid Mahmud
Publication Period: December 2025
