{"id":2311,"date":"2021-08-05T03:11:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-05T08:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.charlesconklin.com\/4cambodia\/?p=2311"},"modified":"2021-08-05T06:38:08","modified_gmt":"2021-08-05T11:38:08","slug":"voltra-matrix-test-drive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.charlesconklin.com\/4cambodia\/2021\/voltra-matrix-test-drive\/","title":{"rendered":"Voltra Matrix Test Drive"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Last week Doungchann, our administrative assistant, and I went to test drive the Voltra Matrix<\/a>. This is the first ‘made in Cambodia’ electric moto. If you’ve been to Phnom Penh, you know that the air and noise pollution are major problems. Cambodia is also consistently ranked as one of the top ten countries in the world most vulnerable to climate change by the UNDP. While Cambodia is far from a top carbon emitter, switching to low carbon transportation is a way for us to lessen our carbon footprint on the local level. One of MCC Cambodia’s environmental stewardship goals, along with eliminating single use plastic<\/a>, is to switch to electric for motos in Phnom Penh. We’re planning to purchase our first electric moto next month and will use it for a few months as a pilot. If all goes well, then we’ll purchase more before the end of the fiscal year in April 2022 and completely phase out gasoline moto use in Phnom Penh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Price<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Voltra Matrix moto costs around $1,450 dollars. This is approximately 60% of the price of an imported gasoline moto. It has much lower maintenance requirements but the flip side is that the battery will need replaced every 3-4 years (for now at least, battery technology is constantly improving). The cost of ‘fuel’ is substantially lower than that of a gasoline moto (note that gasoline for a moto is already cheap so it’s savings along the lines of $3 dollars a month versus .25 cents a month). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the Matrix is cheaper than a new gasoline moto, we’re in a position where we can pay for this shift entirely budget neutral by selling off our older gasoline motos. For now, we’re keeping the newer gasoline motos for use in the countryside where travel and road conditions are more rigorous. But in the future, as electric motos continue to improve, we hope to completely phase out gasoline motos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note how quiet the Matrix is compared to the gasoline moto that drives by. The smoothness and quietness were a bit unnerving to me coming from a combustion engine moto.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Specs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Voltra is planning to export it’s machines to the European Union and they were designed to meet European road standards. The Matrix can carry up to around 440 pounds so it’s strong enough for me to take both girls to school or go to a meeting with Crystal. Performance wise it compares very well to our gasoline moto except for ‘refueling’ – it takes 5 hours for the battery charge, which is great overnight, but it means that a long trip isn’t feasible without carting along a second battery (which can fit into the under seat compartment). I never go on 100 kilometer trips on moto these days but I did when during my last term when I lived in Prey Veng and was visiting irrigation sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n