Going electric
President Marcos recently highlighted the Philippines' push for local electric vehicles, including tricycles and jeepneys. This focus comes despite MD Juan Enterprises having deployed 10 electric jeepneys in Makati CBD as early as 2008. The company, with six decades in the jeep business, also developed e-trikes, with 100 units under the 2015 ETrikeBayan program. Earlier, the Asian Development Bank launched a $300-million loan in 2012 to replace 100,000 tricycles, though only 3,000 units were produced.
The Philippines' electric vehicle push is not new. MD Juan Enterprises deployed 10 electric jeepneys in Makati CBD in 2008. This long history of local EV development contrasts with the President's recent statements. The country has seen multiple attempts at EV adoption, notably with e-trikes, but many faced deployment challenges.
The Asian Development Bank's $300-million loan in 2012 for 100,000 e-trikes produced only 3,000 units. Expensive Japanese-made e-trikes at $5,000 each and poor loan repayment by LGUs doomed the program. This shows the difficulty of scaling EV adoption in the Philippines, even with significant external funding. Local manufacturers like MD Juan face an uphill battle.
The ongoing Middle East conflict makes clear the need for alternative fuels, driving a surge in hybrid and electric car sales. For public transport, however, the path to electrification remains fragmented. The test for the Philippines is whether it can move beyond pilot programs and failed initiatives to create a sustainable, affordable EV ecosystem for public transport.
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