Local manufacturer of electric jeepney gets good review

MANILA, Philippines – The local eJeepney has received rave reviews from a sustainable mobility and energy consultancy group Eonlux because the makers have decided to use it first as a public transport in order to help people experience the electric vehicle without buying it first.

“The eJeepney project in the Philippines takes a smarter approach; it makes more sense because it starts with commercial applications like public transportation. Consumers can, at zero risk, gain positive experience with electric vehicles,” Jan Croeni, CEO of Eonlux said.

The Philippine eJeepney project has received praise from electric vehicles manufacturers from other countries in the recently concluded Electric Vehicles Asia conference held in Hong Kong.

“There has been a long struggle to promote the use of electric vehicles since the early 1900’s. A century later, we’re finally getting it done.” Rommel Juan of Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (MVPMAP) said.

“We are the only ones with an ongoing program. We’re ahead since most of them are still in the planning stage and government restrictions are hampering them. Interestingly enough, our lax government regulations are actually helping us,” he added.

According to Juan, MVPMAP currently focuses more on improving electric vehicles as it plans to scale up the operations of its business arm, Philippine Utility Vehicle Inc. (PhUV Inc.). “We want to get into electric vehicles in a bigger way. We want to develop more electric vehicles for the Philippines. Of course, we also want to be able to provide services to other countries,” he said.

Recently the use of electric vehicles is gaining ground with the launch of various electric vehicle projects like the one in Puerto Princesa and the Makati Green Route Program featuring the eJeepney.

Believing that introducing the electric vehicle directly to both commuters and transportation providers directly might prove difficult, the MVPMAP decided to reach out to government agencies to enable the implementation of a pilot program as a “proof of concept.” -Ma. Elisa P. Osorio (The Philippine Star)