With works to construct charging station for electric vehicles underway at Wamrong in Trashigang, electric vehicle taxi drivers travelling between Samdrup Jongkhar and Trashigang can conveniently charge their vehicles. As of now, drivers mostly opt for short-distance travel as there is no charging station along the Samdrup Jongkhar-Trashigang highway.
This is the only charging station for electric vehicles in Trashigang town. The charging station has two chargers; AC charger and DC or a quick charger. However, the quick charger has remained defunct for almost two months now.
Taxi drivers have to take turns to charge their vehicles.
Taxi drivers say it is difficult to reach Samdrup Jongkhar with just one charging station, especially when they have to stop on the way due to roadblocks.
Without an additional charging station, their businesses have been affected as they have to cancel long drive. Some of the taxi drivers started to leave the town to work in Thimphu.
They say the charging station at Wamrong will make things a lot easier for them.
Currently, there are six EV taxis in Trashigang.
“Sometimes, we do travel to Samdrup Jongkhar. When we return, we charge the vehicle in Samdrup Jongkhar but without a charging point on the way, we get worried. If there is a charging station at Wamrong, it will solve the problem,” said Karma Tenzin, EV taxi driver.
“Along the Samdrup Jongkhar-Trashigang highway, we need a charging station at Wamrong,” said Thinley Jamtsho, another EV Taxi Driver.
They added that having charging stations along other highways will be convenient.
According to the Department of Surface Transport officials, they have already completed the construction of a substation for the charging point at Wamrong adding that the AC charger will be installed in the coming month.
Officials say the EV charger at Trashigang town will be handed over to Bhutan Power Corporation for operation and maintenance. They are in the process of finalising the budget for the installation of EV charger at Sengor, and Chazam in Wangdue Phodrang along the Thimphu-Trashigang highway.
The office is requesting users to be responsible as some chargers were damaged deliberately and some due to negligence.
Sonam Darjay, Trashigang
Edited by Tshering Zam
