E-trikes for a cleaner metropolis

A move worthy of emulation by all our local government chief executives, one of Metro Manila’s progressive cities’ planned eventual phase-out of toxic fumes-spewing and noise-polluting fossil oil fueled tricycles may well be on its way.

I had an on-cam interview with the Honorable Benhur Abalos of Mandaluyong City, which was aired last Sunday on the TV show Motoring Today (Solar Sports, Sky Cable Channel 70, Sundays, 12 noon) and the young mayor was ecstatic about the prospect of finally ridding his rapidly developing city of noisy, air-polluting tricycles and instead having them eventually totally replaced with “e-trikes” or those that run on electricity provided by chargeable storage batteries.

Through an ADB (Asian Development Bank)-assisted project, 20 electric-run tricycles were recently turned over to the city government for trial use and for demonstration to the thousands of tricycle drivers and operators targeted to shift eventually to this environment-friendly and more financially viable mode of commercial transport.

Based on the explanation made by Mayor Benhur on the economics of operating an e-trike compared to that run by gasoline or diesel, there’s no reason why an operator would not shift fuels, or a tricycle driver not recommending to his operator to abandon his noisy and smoky passenger bike. The cost of fossil fuel for an entire day’s plying of one’s route compared to the cost of having a battery-charge for the same length of operation shows a tremendous amount of savings, which can make reaching the tricycle driver’s “boundary” a lot easier to achieve translating to having more food on the table and even possible surplus cash for other needs.

Can you imagine a metropolis bereft of eardrum-shattering, lung-busting noisy and smoky fossil oil-fueled tricycles? That’s like having heaven on earth compared to the aggravation we suffer daily caused by their noise and the respiratory diseases that we and especially our children suffer caused by their toxic emissions.

Convincing to make the shift is only part of the exercise to achieve the goal of having an all-electric tricycle metropolitan city. The greater part is financially-supporting the shift, and this can be done only with government support. I have my reservations about seeing privately-owned banks eager to jump into the financing exercise in the same manner that very few banks presently engage in providing financing for motorcycle purchases. But whatever the hurdles maybe, the benefits of having widespread use of e-trikes far outweigh the prospect of having such difficulties in promoting its adoption.

We note the marked interest shown by no less than President Noynoy Aquino in these e-trikes and we hope that such interest shall have its corresponding support and eager promotion among the other local governments.

Rains were no deterrent

Pouring rain and the prospect of a strong typhoon did not dampen the spirits of the automobile media to see up close and personal the new offering from Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC) – the new Kia Picanto “My best pic”.

“It’s designed for the first-time buyers,” said CAC president and COO, Ms. Ginia Domingo. “Its new design DNA, class-leading fuel economy and low CO2 emission are sure attractions for those looking an exceptional affordable buy,” the young top lady industry executive added.

The 5-seater sub compact vehicle has a 1.0 liter, in-line 3 cylinder powertrain that has a more than adequate 69 ps of power and 9.6 kg-m of torque.

The rain-drenched event (a sign of good luck to many) was held at the Kia Global City dealership showroom last Wednesday, May 24, in the midst of all the precautions for the coming of Typhoon Chedeng was the first event under the close supervision of CAC’s new ad agency lead by the very dynamic Joey Avellana.

For more details about the new Kia Picanto, “My Best Pic” you can track it down by visiting the Kia Picanto Facebook page at www.facebook.com.mybestpic and perhaps win limited edition premium items from CAC.

So easy to win prizes

When the public voting for the 2011 Auto Focus People’s Choice Awards starts in July, there will be fortnightly raffles of the names of those who cast their votes in any of the modes of voting, namely; online through the voting website www.autofocus.com.ph, through printed ballots that appear every Wednesday here on the motoring section of The Philippine STAR and dropped at any Air21 outlets or Caltex stations located nationwide or off site computer voting that can be done in Air21 outlets located in SM Malls all over the country. Those whose names would be luckily picked would stand the chance to win any of the following; free 3 days and 2 nights stay with food at the diving and snorkeling haven in Anilao, Batangas, the Vistamar Beach Resort & Hotel for 30 winners, dinner for 2 at the elegant gaming lounge of Valle Verde Country Club, the Sports Den also for 30 winners, STV T-shirts, coffee mugs, foldable fans, etc., for 100 winners.

Aside from these raffles that are held every 2 weeks from start to finish (July 1st to September 30th) of this year’s public polls, those who would cast their votes anywhere in Air21 outlets can immediately win prizes (t-shirts, coffee mugs and foldable fans) by lucky prize-draws right at the site right after submission of ballots.

So just by expressing your most preferred models in each of the 12 automobile categories and your pick of what should be the 2011-2012 Automobile of the Year – People’s Choice, you stand the chance to win prizes right when you cast your votes and during the raffle of names done every 2 weeks during the duration of the voting.

The 2011 Auto Focus People’s Choice Awards, presented by BDO Auto Loan in cooperation with Caltex with Techron and Air21 with major sponsor Vistamar Beach Resort & Hotel and media partner The Philippine STAR.

Exclusive circle of stakeholders

We took the opportunity of having the momentous event of launching what’s expected to be a top-seller for “first-time car buyers” – the Kia Picanto (which we wrote about above) to likewise firm-up the participation of Columbia Autocar Corporation (CAC) in the 2011 Young Street Smarts Road Safety School Tour.

The free seminars and workshops for high school students on road safety, which were held in 10 schools last year, are being conducted by Sunshine Television (STV) and Social Communications Foundation for Asia (Socio Com Foundation Asia) start in July shortly after this school year’s opening.

CAC, distributor of Kia vehicles in the country, joins the exclusive circle of stakeholders that have recognized their corporate social responsibility to support the advocacy to promote road safety to include; Manila North Tollways Corporation, PCSO, Air21, Asian Carmakers (BMW), CATS Motors (Mercedes-Benz), PGA Cars (Audi) and oil companies Petron and Chevron.

If you feel that you are also a stakeholder in promoting road safety and help reduce the risk of damages, injury and death due to road accidents by teaching our students with their young minds to become present and future safe and responsible road users – why don’t you help us? Write to us here.

Happy Motoring!!!

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