Press Releases
Electric trikes ply Global City
By Miko L. Morelos ; Philippine Daily Inquirer ; First Posted 03:28:00 12/27/2008
MANILA, Philippines – It’s way cheaper to maintain one, it’s environmentally friendly and, above all, drivers and passengers agree the electric tricycle is safe to ride in.
The drivers of the electric tricycles – called E3 – now plying the paved streets of Bonifacio Global City said the tricycle’s modern design complements the place while its limited speed and stability also provide plus factors.
In an interview Friday while waiting for other drivers, Peter Siasico, 46, shared that the new tricycle he was driving could run about 40 kilometers per hour but he doesn’t mind being slower than the usual four-stroke gasoline-powered trike.
“Besides running on batteries, the E3 has a limited speed which could help save passengers and drivers from accidents,” said Siasico, a tricycle driver for five years in Barangay Ususan.
“It looks better, too, compared to the usual tricycle. The E3 goes well with the surroundings here,” he added, referring to the sprawling urban jungle that is the Bonifacio Global City. “Passengers who have ridden the bike, especially foreigners, enjoyed the trip.”
Keeping up with its neighbor Makati city, Mayor Freddie Tinga on Tuesday led city officials in sending off the first batch of electric tricycles that would be servicing passengers around Global city as part of the vehicle’s test run.
He also revealed that the city government intends to subsidize and acquire more electric tricycles to service different routes in the city.
Geraldo Gonzaga, 52, initially hesitated when the barangay chair of his community enlisted him to pilot test the E3 because he’s satisfied with his tricycle, which he has driven for over two decades.
“When I started driving this (E3), it wasn’t that bad,” he said in an interview as he drove the vehicle. “Though I couldn’t get the speed which I had with the old tricycle, this one’s safer and cheaper, too.”
Changing the way people view electric-powered vehicles is one of the big challenges facing developers of eco-friendly tricycles like Sean Gerard Viloria, president and chief executive officer of E-SaVe Transport Systems, Inc.
“The challenge for us is changing people’s mindset,” he said in a separate interview Friday. “Some people resist change. They often stick to the tried and tested (modes) and they don’t want to change it. But we try to explain to them the benefits and they understand along the way.”
The body of the E3 is made of fiberglass, which makes the vehicle less susceptible to corrosion unlike the traditional tricycle sidecar that is made of steel, Viloria explained. Five 12-volt batteries power the engine, which is encased under the driver’s seat. For at least P40 of electricity, the E3 could run about 120 kilometers, Viloria said.
The body could also go through flooded streets to a certain depth, he added.
When asked about the price of the E3, Viloria pointed out that a unit costs about P140,000 which he explained is still cheaper than the regular tricycle, the price of which starts at P70,000. According to Viloria’s estimate, the steel side car is priced at about P120,000.
The E3 also prides itself as “maintenance-free” as drivers would be doing away with oil changes and purchases of new spark plugs, among others. Users, however, would have to check the batteries regularly because it’s prone to wear and tear, said Viloria.
At present, Viloria has sent proposals of implementing the E3 in different cities, which includes Taguig’s neighbor Makati, and the world-renowned resort island of Boracay.
Source:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20081227-180147/Electric-trikes-ply-Global-City
Reposted:
http://fifteenminreflections.blogspot.com/2009/04/electric-trikes-ply-global-city.html
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