Electric Jeepneys start plying Makati roads

"We are very optimistic about the E-Jeepneys' test phase and envision this mode of transport to soon become a common sight in Makati City. The E-Jeepneys will offer a cheaper fuel alternative to jeepney drivers while creating a positive impact in the city's air quality," said Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay.

The Electric Jeepney concept is a component of GRIPP's Climate Friendly Cities Project, a multi-pronged initiative that aims to contribute to climate change mitigation, sustainable transport, and waste management by introducing renewable energy-based technologies. Its goal is to introduce an alternative to the local, diesel-based, small public transport system that will not only reduce air pollution, carbon emissions, and the solid waste stream but will also provide enhanced incomes to the drivers of these vehicles, as well as create new job opportunities for the suppliers to the project.

Once the pilot testing of the E-Jeepneys is finished, the next phase involves the construction of a bio-digester powerplant, where organic waste from the city's wet markets and restaurants will be converted to electricity into which the E-Jeepneys will be plugged for charging. Use of climate-change inducing fossil fuels will therefore be eliminated.

"The E-Jeepney is a no-regrets solution to environment-friendly public transport. It is also a timely answer to rising oil prices. E-Jeepneys consume about one sixth of the fuel costs associated with conventional diesel fueled jeepneys and does not contribute to air pollution.

E-Jeepneys are further meant to avoid using fossil fuels, thus helping mitigate the problem of climate change," said GRIPP Chair and Founder Athena Ronquillo-Ballesteros.

The Bel-Air route is the first public route to be plied by the E-Jeepneys. Commuters will be able to ride the vehicles free of charge.

However, the route is currently limited to private roads as the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has not yet been able to classify the vehicle, thus hampering its registration process.  The delays are caused by lack of classification standards electric vehicles as current system only caters to fossil fuel fed vehicles.

GRIPP and Greenpeace are calling on the relevant agencies of the government to fast track the classification and registration of the electric jeepneys, create the right regulatory framework and policy environment so it could start plying commercial routes.

"The climate problem exacerbates urban environmental challenges for our cities. The national government should take this seriously and heed the international scientific community's findings that governments should quickly find and implement climate solutions of which the E-jeepney is an example. Makati has shown leadership by pioneering projects that address air pollution and climate change at the local level. The government must show their support for such beneficial initiatives and at the same time also show leadership in climate change solutions at the national level," said Greenpeace Climate and Energy Campaigner Jasper Inventor.