[London, England] eTukTuk, a blockchain-based electric vehicle (EV) and charging station ecosystem, today announces the appointment of automotive engineering consultant and entrepreneur, Sasiranga De Silva, to its Board of Advisors.
De Silva will bring a wealth of expertise in green mobility and automotive engineering to eTukTuk, as the company develops its charging network on the ground in Colombo, Sri Lanka. As an advisor, De Silva will directly support eTukTuk's mission to build affordable charging stations and electric vehicles that work seamlessly within urban cities without leaving a substantial carbon footprint.
Seth Ward, Chief Information Officer at eTukTuk, said: "De Silva’s extensive experience in developing sustainable transport initiatives and his deep knowledge of EVs will contribute to the project's expansion as we continue building the eTukTuk charging network in Sri Lanka. His hands-on experience in the region will help strengthen and grow our expanding presence in Colombo, as eTukTuk works to build a cleaner, transparent and more sustainable future."
An influential individual in the South East Asia green mobility industry, De Silva was a recipient of a US$20,000 grant from UN Environment as part of the Asia-Pacific Low-Carbon Lifestyles Challenge, which recognises young people who develop innovative ideas to promote energy-efficient, low-waste and low-carbon lifestyles. Similarly, De Silva was named a Green Energy Champion winner in the 2019 competition under the private sector category and a recipient of the jury award at the Impact Hero competition organised by Earth Company, Japan. As a founder and CEO of ThermalR Industries Pvt Ltd and a former Mechanical Engineering professor at the University of Motratuwa, De Silva is a renowned automotive consultant who launched an EV startup to develop an affordable conversion kit to allow tuktuks to run on electric power. De Silva’s depth of experience has played a vital role in developing regulations and standardising the transport sector in Sri Lanka.
Historically, EV conversion has been led by developed nations that provide subsidies to their citizens, an offering that developing nations cannot confer. eTukTuk is leveraging blockchain technology to build a robust charging infrastructure - and three-wheeled electric vehicles to deliver sustainable transport systems to developing nations. Implementing these structures will accelerate modernisation, enhance upward mobility, empower consumers with greater spending power and stimulate sustainable economic growth in these regions.
Speaking on his appointment, De Silva said, "TukTuk drivers are a crucial pillar of the Sri Lankan economy, but many are struggling to make a living due to unaffordable fuel prices. eTukTuk is at the forefront of building an efficient and shared EV infrastructure to lessen drivers' dependence on fossil fuels. eTukTuk will enable a new generation of efficient transportation by introducing strategically located EV charging stations and electric vehicles that will benefit the environment and Sri Lankan society."
As a Sri Lankan national, De Silva will collaborate with the local government and influential industry partners to ensure the efficient rollout of eTukTuk's charging infrastructure. He will also assist with the recruitment of engineers on the ground in Sri Lanka.
De Silva joins a host of industry experts on the eTukTuk Advisory Board, including Niro Cooke, Group Director on the Main Board of Capital Maharaja, Dimantha Jayawardena, President of SLACMA, the Sri Lankan Automotive Component Manufacturers Association, and Sheran Fernando, Co-Founder of InnoSolve.
