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CWEIC is pleased to announce KleanDrive as the winner of the Bangladesh Green Award. This prestigious accolade recognises their work to accelerate the shift from diesel to clean electric transport in Commonwealth markets and beyond.

KleanDrive, a certified B Corporation, focuses on developing modular electric drive repower systems that convert existing diesel buses, trucks, and other heavy vehicles into electric models — an approach designed to deliver scalable and cost-effective decarbonisation.

Turning a Practical Challenge Into a Scalable Solution

The inspiration for KleanDrive emerged while its CEO and Co-Founder, Joe Tighe, was building a solar and battery energy storage company in Australia. In discussions with bus fleet operators about behind-the-meter energy solutions, it became clear that fleets remained almost entirely diesel, with vehicles typically in service for 15 to 20 years.

That realisation led to the core idea behind KleanDrive: without a practical and affordable way to repower existing vehicles, diesel would remain dominant for decades.

Expanding Across Sectors and Markets

KleanDrive’s next phase focuses on scaling its modular electric drive systems through partnerships with fleet operators, OEMs, and local engineering partners. The company’s software integration and modular subframe design enable flexible deployment across different transport environments.

Beyond buses and trucks, KleanDrive will extend its systems to in-shore marine vessels and heavy off-road equipment, applying the same modular approach to support wider transport decarbonisation.

Impact of the Bangladesh Green Award

The CEO described winning the Bangladesh Green Award as “an incredible honour,” recognising the company’s commitment to improving environmental outcomes and public health in Commonwealth countries and globally.

The prize funding will support the advancement of KleanDrive’s next generation of modular electric drive systems, enabling further deployment in emerging markets.

Sustainability at the Centre of Business Growth

For KleanDrive, business goals and sustainability are closely connected. The company aims to demonstrate a model where strong unit economics align with meaningful emissions reductions. It emphasises that commercial viability is essential to delivering environmental and humanitarian outcomes at scale, especially given the climate challenges ahead.

The Role of Business–Government Collaboration

KleanDrive notes that businesses play a central role in advancing sustainability, particularly when they understand the full value chain of electrification — from energy generation and storage to vehicle integration and supporting infrastructure.

In the transport sector, bus fleet operators are naturally aligned with local government priorities related to air quality, public health, accessibility, and affordability. Aligning innovation with these priorities is essential to long-term progress.

KleanDrive stresses that true sustainability depends on collaboration between the public and private sectors, with each recognising the objectives and responsibilities of the other and working together to meet the needs of future generations.

CWEIC, in collaboration with The Government of Bangladesh, is honoured to recognise and celebrate such important and innovative work  and supports all sustainable initiatives across the Commonwealth and beyond.

Learn more about KleanDrive’s work on their website, here.