10 electric tricycles to go on test run at UP Diliman campus

Ten electric tricycles called “UP e-kot” will start plying the Diliman campus of the University of the Philippines for a two-month trial run as part of research for environmental modes of transportation, a campus official said.

“The vision of UP Diliman is to go green in the next five years. This will be a test of its feasibility,” said Nestor Castro, vice chancellor for community affairs, whose office has been overseeing the trial operation.

Bemac Electric Transportation Philippines Inc., a subsidiary of Japanese firm Uzushio Electric Co. Ltd., will lend the e-trikes to UP during the test run.

A memorandum of agreement will be signed during the e-kot launch on Friday between UP Diliman chancellor Michael Tan and Bemac president Takahiro Innami.

“We will look at power consumption, speed, maintenance, whether it can handle the terrain and the volume of passengers, among other things,” Castro said in an interview with the Inquirer on Thursday.

The study will be done in coordination with the UP National Center for Transportation Studies.

After the assessment, they would make recommendations on whether to discontinue use, continue by purchasing e-vehicles or request a grant from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, Castro said.

Bemac’s 68VM e-trike can run at a speed of 50 kilometers per hour and has a range of 60 kilometers when the lithium ion battery is fully charged. It currently retails at P450,000.

The e-kot, a play on the university’s ikot jeepneys, can accommodate six passengers and will provide free services from June 20 to Aug. 19, 2015.

Each unit will be assigned at certain hours in campus offices and areas not covered by existing jeepney routes, Castro said.

“There will be messengerial services from Quezon Hall to other buildings. Another unit will be used by the UP Diliman Police. There will also be units at the Campus Maintenance Office to take them where they are needed and at the Office of the Campus Architect for inspection of ongoing projects,” Castro said.

The e-kot would serve residents of campus dormitories, varsities training at night, and staff on overtime work, such as in the library and the university registrar, he said.

The e-kot routes also include the College of Science complex and residential areas of Area 1, Area 2, Hardin ng Rosas and Hardin ng Bougainvillea.

Members of the UP community may call the UP Diliman Police for pick-up requests.