In a move towards sustainability and environmental consciousness, Tourism Fiji unveiled its inaugural fleet of electric vehicles (EVs) during a ceremony officiated by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Hon. Viliame Gavoka.
In his address at the launch event, DPM Gavoka emphasised that these electric vehicles mark progress towards our sustainability goals and reflect global trends towards more environmentally friendly vehicles.
"Through this initiative, Tourism Fiji is taking leadership in sustainable practices in the tourism sector and increasing public awareness of sustainable transportation." When procuring the electric vehicles, Tourism Fiji demonstrated a strong commitment to environmental consciousness.”
DPM Gavoka also drew attention to Build Your Dream’s (BYD) Blade Battery technology, which not only optimises space utilisation by over 50 percent, but it also excels in stringent safety tests, guaranteeing both longevity and remarkable performance.
"This is an important step in our commitment to our sustainability roadmap. Even our approach to acquiring the vehicles has been sustainable - utlising sponsorships and partnerhsips to help bring the vision to life and deliver long term cost savings as well as reduced environmental impact," explained the CEO of Tourism Fiji Mr Brent Hill.
“After comprehensive research, we reached out to EV Direct, recognising the alignment between our sustainable transportation vision and their offerings," Mr Hill noted."
The newly launched EVs are fully electric, leaving zero emissions, and are not hybrid vehicles. Furthermore, they come equipped with portable chargers and utilise solar chargers, ensuring these EVs present longterm savings potential and significantly reduce reliance on fossil fuels.”
The introduction of these electric vehicles is made possible through strategic partnerships and sponsorships. EV Direct played a pivotal role in subsidising Tourism Fiji's journey towards eco-friendliness. Additionally, Fiji Care, the first insurance company to offer coverage for electric vehicles in Fiji, has also shown strong commitment to this green endeavor. Solar Hub Fiji also partnered with Tourism Fiji, fully sponsoring the installation of solar chargers.
By introducing electric vehicles, Tourism Fiji aims to encourage the tourism community to adopt similar practices and continue working towards a more sustainable future.