A system project was launched on Thursday to test the viability of electric trikes (e-trikes) as a mode of transportation in Intramuros, Manila – one of the three pilot sites for the e-trike project.
READ: E-trike charging stations rise in Manila’s tourist belt
“This pilot project will consist of 50 e-trikes that will be deployed within the Intramuros area manufactured by Bemac Electric Transportation Philippines Inc., with 17 charging stations strategically located within the pilot site,” Board of Investments executive director for industry development services, Corazon Halili-Dichosa said.
She added that the project was a grant from New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization and service provider SoftBank Corp, both from Japan.
The project is set to run from October this year until September 2018.
Intramuros, being one of the center of tourism in Metro Manila was chosen was a pilot area for the e-trike project. It was also chosen because of the diversity of people in the area consisting of tourists and students.
READ: Malate, Binondo, first beneficiaries of Manila e-trike program
EV Hub
With the Pilot project set, Dichosa said that the Philippines could be an EV manufacturing hub in Southeast Asia.
“We hope that more local and foreign investments will come and make the country their production base, thus create around 100,000 in new jobs for Filipinos,” she said.
The Trade department is currently working for a better financing window for e-vehicles from the Development Bank of the Philippines and the Land Bank of the Philippines.
This would make way for potential EV operators to more sustainable e – vehicles given its massive capitalization requirement.
An e-trike ranges from P350,000 to P450,000 per unit. An e – jeepney costs around P850,000 a unit, BoI said.