QC, Mandaluyong to welcome e-jeeps

A transport group has unveiled its plans to replace the traditional jeepneys in Quezon City and Mandaluyong with vehicles that run on lithium batteries.

At the Fernandina forum in San Juan City last week, Obet Martin of the Pangkalahatang Sanggunian Manila and Suburbs Drivers Association Nationwide Inc., or Pasang Masda, said the “dropping” of their members’ old units and their replacement with around 2,000 electronic jeeps or e-jeeps was an attempt at vehicular modernization.

“I hope some of the operators don’t get mad at me but I’m for (the phaseout of public vehicles 13 years and older). We are at a stage of modernization,” he said when asked what he thought of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s (LTFRB) controversial policy.

Earlier this year, the Court of Appeals upheld the LTFRB’s plan to phase out taxi units 13 years and older.

Martin said the initial 40 e-jeeps purchased through contributions from the group’s operators from an American-based company would be deployed to Metro Manila, specifically in Quezon City and later in Mandaluyong and other nearby places, starting in January.

Additional units

He said the remaining 1,000-plus units would be assembled sometime in February when the American company has put up its own plant in Calamba, Laguna.

“They’re planning to [set up shop here] to help [provide jobs],” he said, without naming the supplier.

According to Martin, the e-jeeps—which don’t make a sound—can carry 20 passengers and were therefore “bigger” than the ones in Makati. However, they do not have air conditioning.

“But we’re checking if we can ask the supplier to install aircon units in them later on,” he said.

He said that to prevent the batteries in the e-jeeps from running low, they would be made to carry passengers from charging center to charging center.

On a full battery, an e-jeep can run for around 100 kilometers.

According to Martin, there were already existing charging centers in Centris and SM North in Quezon City. “We will coordinate with other local government units for them to follow suit,” he said.

As for the fare, the group would still conduct a study on how much commuters would be charged.

He was optimistic, however, that the fare would not be as high. “The fare might even be lower,” he said.