Electric vehicle goes on trial run in Cavite ecozone

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) is hosting the trial run of the first locally produced vehicle that runs on batteries and electric power.

PEZA Director General Lilia B. de Lima said the Philippine Electric Vehicle (PEV) will be used first within the government-run Cavite export processing zone. The PEV will transport the 90,000 workers within the zone during the trial run set to begin next month.

The vehicle’s inventor Roel Judilla said each unit will cost P600,000 to make. However, he said they are still ironing out kinks in order to bring down costs to between P300,000 to P400,000.

According to Judilla, the PEV is not yet optimized because it runs only 80 kilometers every four-hour charging session, costing P1,500 per full charge.

In addition, he said the PEV cannot be used commercially or in far places. He said the car may only be used for specific short distances like inside the ecozone, military camps, subdivisions or theme parks. "The use of the PEV must be confined in fixed distances and small places."

But Judilla said he is confident he can come out with a more efficient version in two months’ time. For instance, he said he is developing a model that would run using solar energy to avoid the exorbitant electricity costs.

Initially, he said 50 units will be produced. He said they will market the vehicle to high-end subdivisions, leisure parks and resorts.

The objective of the PEV is to introduce a clean and sustainable urban mass transport service on a limited travel distance. He said the PEV is a cheaper transport service when compared to the jeepney.

The PEV sits 10 passengers. Majority of the parts, or 70 percent, will be sourced in the country. Francisco Motors Phils. designed the body and chassis while the safety glass came from Asahi Glass Philippines.