LGUs urged to shift to e-vehicles

MANILA, Philippines - The Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) is urging local government units (LGUs) to consider the use of electric vehicles in their operations.

EVAP president Rommel Juan said the group composed of 50 electric vehicle industry players wants to connect with LGUs keen on going green to accelerate the country’s move towards a more modern and cleaner public transport.

Juan said EVAP has various available programs for LGUs which want to start using electric vehicles such as electric jeepneys and electric tricycles in their areas. 

He said EVAP even offers public charging stations to complete the infrastructure needed for the electric vehicles’ efficient operations.

“They can coordinate with us and we will help them formulate an electric vehicle program for their locality. We currently have many available programs for both electric jeepneys and electric tricycles that can be implemented in various cities and municipalities nationwide,” he said.

Juan said many e-jeepney and e-trike programs are now in place and operating around the country.

“These programs have electric vehicles in actual operation, providing the proof of concept that electric vehicle is a technology that really works. We thus have a business model that has been proven to be doable and effective,” he said.

Juan said EVAP is determined on promoting the use of electric vehicles in the Philippines and it has already identified public transport as the starting point.

“We direly need to modernize public transport and electric vehicles are ideal for this. Local industries will benefit because electric vehicles for local public transport will be manufactured locally because of its unique qualities and features. In the process, industry support groups will be developed and new jobs will be generated,” Juan said.