Across Dhaka’s crowded corridors, a small, boxy electric car called the City Boy is quietly rewriting the math of daily transport. Built by Palki Motors, a youth-led Bangladeshi company, the vehicle is designed for the drivers who keep the city moving—ride-share, last-mile, and neighborhood shuttles—while cutting fuel costs and tailpipe emissions. It’s a practical, homegrown answer to SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy.

The idea is simple: make an EV that’s cheap to run, easy to maintain, and fast to “refuel.” City Boy’s compact battery charges in a few hours and supports quick battery swapping, so a driver can roll in, swap, and get back on the road in minutes—no long waits, no range anxiety. Palki is pairing the car with a network plan for solar-powered swap stations, so the energy feeding the fleet can be cleaner, too. For drivers used to volatile fuel prices and frequent repairs, the shift to electricity means steadier earnings and fewer breakdowns.

On the road, the car suits the city’s stop-start rhythm—short hops, frequent stops, small streets. Test drives in local media clock the City Boy at roughly 100–120 km per charge in real-world use. Because the car is locally built and assembled, parts and service stay close to home, creating jobs and keeping know-how in Bangladesh.

Recognition has followed. In January 2025, Palki Motors won the Zayed Sustainability Prize (Energy), a boost that helps scale production and the swap network. But the core story remains refreshingly down-to-earth: young engineers solving a local problem with tools they can build, fix, and grow themselves.

“This recognition motivates us to push even harder… We believe in the power of technology and innovation to uplift entire communities.” - Mustafa Al Momin, Founder, Palki Motors.