Electric jeepneys will be cheaper and more environment friendly if Bacolod transport operators find them viable, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said Monday, May 15.
The first of three sample e-jeepneys manufactured by China-based Jiangsu Fengchuen New Energy Power Technology Co. Ltd. has arrived in Bacolod for trial runs by transport operators to determine their durability, performance and efficiency, the mayor said.
It will also give Bacolod transport operators the opportunity to make suggestions on how to further improve the e-jeepneys, he said.
One suggestion is to move the passenger door from the back to the side to ensure the safety of passengers boarding the vehicle, he said.
The vehicle designed to resemble the Philippines’ iconic “Sarao” jeepney has a capacity for about 22 passengers.
If the e-jeepneys are found acceptable they will fill in the gap caused by the lack of modern jeeps in Bacolod City, he said.
He said 1,099 modern jeepneys have been allowed to operate in Bacolod but there are only 526 operating operating so far.
Benitez said he met with the Bacolod City Council members Sunday night to ask them to review whether 1,099 modern jeepneys are enough to serve the needs of Bacolod.
Their priority is to ensure that Bacolod residents have enough public transportation, he said.
The provisional authorities that will allow traditional jeepneys in Bacolod to operate until the end of December will also fill in the gap caused by the current lack of modern jeeps in the city, he added.
The target is for e-jeepneys to be sold at less than P2 million, he said, noting that current modern jeeps cost P2.6 to P2.9 million.
Benitez also pointed out that e-jeepneys are more environment friendly and worldwide the direction is to shift towards using green vehicles.
If the e-jeepneys are found viable he will encourage the importation of an initial 300 after which the Chinese firm will start manufacturing more in Bacolod, he added.
The manufacturing plant investors need to know if there is a market for the e-jeepney in Bacolod after the trial runs, Benitez said.*