The Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) is reportedly targeting 6,000 electric vehicles (EV) by year 2018 in line with modernization of the country’s antiquated fuel-powered public transport system.
EVAP President Rommel Juan said 5,000 electric tricycles and 1,000 electric jeepneys are going to be rolled out over the next three years with government assistance and the development of technologies which can lower the production costs.
There are currently about 700 electric vehicles operating in the Philippines. The EVAP head says he is however confident that the industry will take off.
The industry chief told media, “There is a very huge potential for the electric vehicle industry because the Philippines is the perfect storm for electric vehicles in the region kasi our public transport system really needs modernization and kaya natin gawin locally.” Juan adds, “And the domestic market is enough to spur the growth of the electric vehicle industry.”
“We are confident that with the government’s support, we can push for our electric vehicle advocacy even more and go full blast in our campaign to modernize mass public transport with eco-friendly E-Jeepneys and E-Trikes,” Juan declared.
The EVAP release sent to GoodNewsPilipinas said that with 350,000 old public utility jeepneys and 1.2 million tricycles that need replacement, it makes sense to start with these two vehicles in developing the domestic EV industry. “We are introducing new models of ETrikes and EJeepneys and we have found that no LGU would not want an EV transport system in place in its area. This year, EVAP plans to reach out to LGUs to offer them its EV mass transport solutions for implementation in various areas of the country”.
Juan also revealed the exploration of “green” credit lines from government owned corporations such as the Development Bank of the Philippines and Landbank. The Department of Trade and Industry is also reportedly looking into areas to cooperate with this EV Agenda.
EVAP in 2015 recognized the Bacoor City government in Cavite province for pioneering the “green” incentive to PUV operators by offering free franchises to e-tricycles and setting up numerous charging stations around the city. Yolanda-stricken Tacloban has also been helped by RE-Charge Tacloban to repurpose storm-damaged jeepneys into e-jeepneys.
EVs are reputed to be more economical to operate since electricity worldwide is cheaper than petroleum products and EVs are virtually almost maintenance free.
