Homegrown vehicles developed by local scientists are available for jeepneys to comply with strict government standards.
These are electric jeepneys or vehicles running on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) seen as viable alternatives to support sustainable transport fuel diversification and as the government pushes for the modernization of public utility vehicles (PUV), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said.
Technologies are available for licensing from research institutes which developed the homegrown vehicles, said Dr. Enrico Paringit, executive director of the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD), which developed the technologies for local settings. PCIEERD is part of DOST.
Paringit said these modernized “Kings of the Road” comply with regulations and are in tune with the government’s thrust towards electronic vehicles and other forms of mass transportation.
There is the 23-seater electric jeepney developed in partnership with the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines.
It is powered by a lithium-ion battery and produces zero emissions and no noise pollution, making it an environment friendly alternative to the diesel-fueled jeepney, Paringit said.
The e-jeepney has a range of 55 kilometers per full charge. It features a dashboard panel that includes a button to open and close a side door, an emergency button that disables the vehicle, and the standard LED display that shows speed and remaining range.
The non-metallic body provides insulation with high resistance to corrosion and chemicals.
To address mileage concerns, PCIEERD scientists have developed a battery charging system. Operations templates have been worked out for fleet operations and the collection of daily loan amortizations.
There is also the LPG-powered jeepney developed by the University of the Philippines (UP) National Center for Transportation Studies and funded by PCIEERD.
The 18-seater features seat partitions to prevent passenger compression, easy access stop buttons, a rear emergency exit door, digital route signage, a cashless payment system, a closed circuit television (CCTV) camera system and a dash cam.
The LPG-powered jeepney features a ramp for persons with disabilities.
Both electric- and LPG-powered jeepneys provide passengers with more spacious and comfortable rides, reducing discomfort and stress caused by overcrowding. Paul Icamina
