DOE, ADB unveil mock-up E-tricycle prototype

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have come up with a mock-up prototype E-tricycle that will be manufactured under the government’s $500-million E-trike program.

The Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP), for its part, said it is willing to join the rollout of the E-trike program.

To facilitate public inspection, the DOE and ADB unveiled the mock up prototype.

The E-trike model was developed by Japanese consultant Itchiro Hatayama based on the winning entry in an E-Trike design competition in March.

“The winning entry was enhanced considering the aspects of safety, functionality and production friendliness,” said EVAP president Rommel Juan.

Juan said the consultant also took into consideration the terrain, passenger capacity and other local operating conditions of a tricycle.

Industry players Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (MVPMAP) and EVAP earlier said the industry can provide value-added parts and labor for the E-trike project.

“EVAP is in full support of the DOE E-trike project because we believe that this will be a shot-in-the-arm for the infant electric vehicle (EV) industry and catalyze its players to pursue and invest more in the domestic EV industry,” Juan said.

It will also generate jobs and business opportunities while facilitating the transfer of EV technology, Juan added.

The ADB and DOE have started the search for manufacturers for the rollout of 100,000 E-trikes until 2016.

The implementation of the program aims to reduce the transport sector’s reliance on fossil fuels and increase enhance the standard of living of tricycle drivers.

“Our next initiative will be to schedule a technical meeting with the DOE to discuss further the design, safety and functional elements of the E-trike,” Juan said.

EVAP, which is composed of some 27 EV manufacturers, assemblers, importers, dealers, members of the academe and enthusiasts, also wants to discuss with the DOE the aspects of manufacturing concerns, mass production and localization efforts.