NEWS: "Palace prioritizing program for electric PUVs"

**ghosthunter** · April 27th, 2011 10:05 AM

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/218814/b...-electric-puvs

[SIZE="4"]Palace prioritizing program for electric PUVs[/SIZE]
04/27/2011 | 08:20 AM

In the wake of continued increases in prices of fuel, the government has started taking steps to wean public utility vehicles from fossil fuels, Malacañang said Wednesday.

Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said the Departments of Energy and Transportation and Communications have made the first step with tricycles.

“Yan ay priority measure, 'di maaring magpatuloy ang kasalukuyang sitwasyon na masyado tayong naliligalig sa pagkaroon ng volatility of oil price movement," he said in an interview on dzXL radio.

He noted they are starting the program with some one million public utility tricycles in the country.

The government will use a grant from the Asian Development Bank for this, he said.

“Ang unang programa natin, ang pinaka-basic transportation na ginagamit, ang tricycle. Ang objective natin alisin totally ang dependence ng tricycle sa oil at magkaroon ng electric tricycles," he said.

Coloma said that once this is completed, the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) will set their sights on other public utility vehicles such as jeeps and buses.

Many buses already use other forms of energy such as compressed natural gas (CNG) while some taxis and jeeps have been modified to use liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

“As for other forms of public transport, the DOTC and DOE are firming up specific measures," he said.

Power sector slightly affected

Meanwhile, Coloma noted the energy situation was not too affected by the rising prices of oil since only nine percent of electric power is sourced from fossil fuel.

He said only nine percent of electric power is generated through fossil fuel and the 91 percent is sourced from geothermal, hydroelectric and coal.

“Di tayo masyadong apektado, 9 percent lang ang fuel-related," he said. — LBG, GMA News

**ghosthunter** · April 27th, 2011 10:12 AM

Although it is a good move, would it be too little too late at this point?

Electric trikes are cheaper and easier to implement because of lower investment as compared to larger vehicles like e-jeepneys and maybe hybrid buses BUT the impact on the riding public would be also smaller, very localized only with electric trikes like the ones in the Fort.

Regarding the trikes in the FORT, I haven't seen them for a while. Are they still being used?

**Mguy** · April 27th, 2011 10:28 AM

Any word on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)? I remember we were pushing this type of fuel for buses then. So what's the byword for this now?

**ghosthunter** · April 27th, 2011 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by Mguy

Any word on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)? I remember we were pushing this type of fuel for buses then. So what's the byword for this now?

Last I have read about it (weeks ago), the government is planning to take over the operation of the two (?) CNG stations.

We can safely consider the government backed CNG bus project a failure.

**Monseratto** · April 27th, 2011 10:47 AM

Another reactive policy by our hare-brain politicians. They should have done that in 2008. The local industry will take decades just to catch up with existing battery technology and develop the infrastructure to mass produce these. Aren't there eletric bikes in China already? Why not just give incentives to import?

**uls** · April 27th, 2011 10:51 AM

inuna kasi ng gobyerno yung pagparating ng CNG buses kahit wala pa yung CNG infrastructure

mga genius

**sgt_taga** · April 27th, 2011 11:00 AM

ok na rin yan. kung matutuloy, maganda rin ang maidudulot sa lahat niyan pati na sa kapaligiran natin.

yun nga lang, anong plano nila sa pag-phase-out nung mga eyesore puvs at paano nila aaregluhin yung mga operators?

teka, this will probably only work if the gov't take over the transportation industry if not, regulate it.

**ghosthunter** · April 27th, 2011 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by Monseratto

Another reactive policy by our hare-brain politicians. They should have done that in 2008. The local industry will take decades just to catch up with existing battery technology and develop the infrastructure to mass produce these. Aren't there eletric bikes in China already? Why not just give incentives to import?

Advantage doing it now is more choices, even if we just look at China as the supplier of e-trikes as a whole. Choice of more basic lead acid batteries would help minimize long term part sourcing & cost issues but not help in maximizing range.

**ghosthunter** · April 27th, 2011 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by sgt_taga

teka, this will probably only work if the gov't take over the transportation industry if not, regulate it.

You've hit the proverbial nail on the head.

**sgt_taga** · April 27th, 2011 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by Monseratto

Another reactive policy by our hare-brain politicians. They should have done that in 2008. The local industry will take decades just to catch up with existing battery technology and develop the infrastructure to mass produce these. Aren't there eletric bikes in China already? Why not just give incentives to import?

nga lang brader, nung 2008, si gma pa ang nasa palasyo.

kung sinimulan man niya noon yan, malamang na nire-reverse na yan ng kasalukuyang mga namumuno... ke ayos o hindi - alam naman natin yan eh.

kung matuloy na yan ngayon, sana eh maayos ang plano at pagpapatupad para yung susunod na administrasyon eh ituloy yan...

... yun eh kung ang susunod eh me talino at di puro vendetta ang aasikasuhin.