This report presents an effort to understand the characteristics, uptake and overall market of electric two- and three- wheelers in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The study includes the collection of data on electric two- and three-wheeler models in the three regions, a review of the status of the market, projections for region-wide growth until 2040, and recommendations to accelerate the transition towards electric two- and three-wheeler in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The process for developing this report began with the compilation of existing electric two- and three-wheeler models and their charging technology in each of the target regions through interviews with distributors, visits in the field, and internet searches. Details were collected on more than forty data points (listed in the appendix), including but not limited to motor power, battery capacity, battery chemistry, certified range, top speed, charger capacity, and physical size. Companies’ willingness to share specific data varied widely, posing a challenge and requiring the team to critically assess the data provided. The collected vehicle model and charging technology data was compiled in a database and an online dashboard.
The UK approval of National Grid’s 2GW Sea Link, a 138km high-voltage undersea connection between Suffolk and Kent, is a critical enabling move for sustainable construction. Greater grid capacity will support electrified heat, EV-ready developments, low carbon construction sites and net zero carbon buildings, strengthening the infrastructure needed for decarbonising the built environment. For developers, the decision reinforces the need to align sustainable building design, life cycle cost, lifecycle assessment and whole life carbon assessment with practical energy resilience.
Materials, waste and resource efficiency in construction remain the harder test. WRAP’s estimate that stronger circular economy action could add £93bn in gross value and support 550,000 jobs gives new weight to circular economy in construction, end-of-life reuse in construction and circular construction strategies. Veolia’s conversion of a Birmingham household waste recycling centre into a circular economy hub shows how secondary materials, repair and reuse infrastructure can begin to reduce the carbon footprint of construction. The shift away from take-make-dispose models will depend on sustainable material specification, environmental product declarations (EPDs), low embodied carbon materials, renewable building materials, green building materials and credible data on embodied carbon in materials.
Research from the University of Surrey strengthens the case for eco-design for buildings, sustainable design and low carbon design. Its findings that indoor planting and living walls can improve air quality and provide cooling show how biophilic measures can support energy-efficient buildings, healthier interiors and building lifecycle performance. Green walls are not a substitute for fabric-first design, efficient services or robust whole life carbon modelling, but they can contribute to low-impact construction, sustainable architecture and green infrastructure when specified with clear maintenance and performance criteria.
A legal challenge against Britain’s Health and Safety Executive over fast-tracked chemical approvals underlines a wider risk for green construction and eco-friendly construction: net zero carbon and carbon footprint reduction cannot be pursued without scrutiny of toxicity, material safety and long-term environmental impact of construction. The next phase of environmental sustainability in construction will require cleaner power, low carbon building systems, low carbon construction materials, circular logistics and tougher governance. BREEAM, BREEAM v7 and wider standards will face growing pressure to reward net zero whole life carbon, carbon neutral construction and sustainable building practices that prove real performance across the full building lifecycle.
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