Most may associate last week’s T&T Energy Conference with oil and gas, but the event also served as a showcase for renewable options.
The Green Pioneer, the world’s first ammonia-powered vessel, built and operated by Australian company Fortescue was berthed in the Port of Spain Waterfront throughout the week as the event unfolded.
However people visiting the trade show would have noticed the electric vehicle (EV) Leapmotor C10 on display by Evolve Mobility, right next to a booth operated by fuel retailer Unipet.
Evolve Mobility is a new company, which is aiming to bring more affordable electric vehicles to the wider public, as apart from the aforementioned Leapmotor, the company has started bringing other Chinese brands; iCAUR, GAC, Wuling, JuneYao and a brand already familiar to customers in T&T, BYD.
“We brought it to the energy conference this week to really showcase that EVs can be affordable. A lot of people in the Caribbean assume that EVs are very expensive. And what Evolve Mobility did is that we have partnered with multiple suppliers in China, so we have six different brands, 24 different models.
“Our prices range from $189,000 to $500,000 and we’re really trying to make EVs affordable in the Caribbean. And we’re not only a dealership, we’re like a EV ecosystem,’ said Vinda Barran, general manager of Evolve Mobility, a subsidiary of Ramps Logistics.
He assured that the company’s involvement in the conference was not meant to be disruptive but rather strategic, given that many companies around the world had adopted EVs and renewable energy options.
“A lot of these energy companies are going into EVs as well. They are looking at sustainable energy, and we have partnered with Unipet today.
“Unipet is next to our booth, and Unipet, everyone knows, is a fuel business. They sell petrol. And Unipet has also gone into fast chargers. They have gone into EV chargers as well. And they have a lot of EV vehicles too. So a lot of these energy companies are also adopting the EV change with their fleet vehicles. I’m sure by now they are looking at replacing fleet vehicles. And Evolve is open to working with any energy company that wants to change their fleet vehicles to EVs as well.”
Barran, a self-admitted car enthusiast, said he also developed a passion for pushing the Evolve Mobility brand as he noticed many other car dealers did not offer as many features as the cars he had encountered when he visited China.
Barran said, “I’ve been to plenty dealerships in Trinidad, and when you go to these dealerships, they tell you it’s fully loaded, but you’re getting vehicles with minimal features. The interior is plush, it’s a fabric, and you’re spending a lot of money. Last year, I actually visited China. I went there and saw the vehicles that they have, the technology that they have as well. And the prices of the vehicles are relatively cheaper compared to what we have locally here and what’s in the US.”
He explained that he tested the theory first, importing vehicles as test cases, before making the full leap into the business, with the company officially launching in December.
“We imported three vehicles for ourselves, for Evolve. We tested the vehicles and realised that these vehicles are really good vehicles. They can withstand the roads in T&T, and they are packed with a lot of features and technology, right? So that’s the problem. We started this business to really ensure that you can afford the luxury by not paying a luxurious price,” he said.
In the company’s first month of operation, there has been positive feedback as already some of the company’s initial stock for the market were already sold out on the website. Barran admitted like many other brands offering EVs before, he has had to win over the sceptics.
“I think the feedback has been more or less the same questions you have been asking. How would we service? What can the vehicles do for me? Why should I switch from gas to EV, “ said Barran, who said the team has been trained to host an hour-long session addressing various concerns but informed by the adoption of these vehicles in foreign markets.
“It’s relatively new to the Caribbean, but it’s not new in Europe. It’s not new in the Far East, and in China 99 per cent of the new vehicles are EVs. They are there are no more gas stations, They are literally living in the future. So why wait for us to get EVs in the next 10 years when we can get it now,” said Barran.
In the past few years, several major local dealerships have introduced full electric vehicle options, including Lafast Motors and Massy Motors, with both companies reporting significant growth in interest and purchases of these vehicles.
Lafast also expanded its fleet of Chinese vehicles last year, introducing the Foton brand to T&T’s market in July as it acknowledged the local opinion of Chinese vehicles had grown increasingly positive.
On Friday, the company unveiled a new model, the Foton Tunland V9, a mild hybrid truck which brand managers explained also offered affordable luxury options.
The company said, “We introduced the V9 to the Trinidad market as there is a growing demand for more advanced, technology-driven commercial vehicles. It reflects the evolution of customer expectations beyond basic utilities. The V9 offers greater comfort, performance and smart features without sacrificing capability.”
Lafast added, “The V9 aims to fill the gap by offering capacity without compromise. As a mild hybrid vehicle, it also provides improved fuel efficiency while remaining affordable, making it a practical and forward-thinking option for local buyers.”
The introduction of the Tunland V9 came just two months after Lafast introduced the BYD Yuan Pro, a fully electric SUV.
Lafast said it welcomed new competition in the EV market when asked by Sunday Business Guardian, but explained it would still offer non-electric options to the public.
“Competition drives progress, while EV’s are important, Lafast also recognises the continued relevance of advanced combustion and hybrid technologies,” said Lafast in response to the this publication’s questions.
However, the company would not offer a response with regard to the impact of changes in taxes and customs duties on high-end EVs on Friday.
On January 1, 2026, the Government introduced new duties on high-end EVs (over $400,000 CIF), adding 10 per cent customs duty, 12.5 per cent VAT, and a tiered motor vehicle tax. The Government maintained full exemptions for lower-priced EVs, new or used, under two years old, CIF under $400,000.
