By Karen Ann A. Macalalad
While the use of free electric tricycles in UP Diliman (UPD) may bring innovation to the university, drivers of Ikot jeepneys have expressed alarm over its possible effects on their operation.
Pilot testing of ten electric tricycles, dubbed “e-kot” and funded by electric vehicle manufacturer BEMAC Electric Transportation Philippines Inc. (BEMAC), has started in UPD on June 19. Should the initial two-month operation be successful, the university administration is planning to adapt the vehicles for permanent use in the campus.
“Makakaapekto [ito], kasi makukuha nila iyong mga sakay. Kung libre talaga iyon, doon sasakay ang mga empleyado at estudyante,” said Edwin dela Cruz who has been working as an Ikot driver for 15 years.
BEMAC is a domestic subsidiary of Uzushio Electric Co. Ltd., a pioneer in the Japanese electric vehicle industry. Talks between the company and the university started last March, according to Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs Nestor Castro.
“We are aware that the population in UP Diliman is continuously growing and particular transportation needs have been identified,” Andrea Gravador of BEMAC Sales & Marketing division said.
The company and UP found provision for night-time transportation service for students and staff was needed, especially for the people residing within and around the campus, Gravador added.
Powered by lithium-charged batteries, each electric vehicle can hold up to 6 passengers and can run at a maximum speed of 50 kilometers per hour. The price of each vehicle is pegged at P 450,000, and will continue running at a cost of P 500 per day.
The electric tricycles are free, but the cost of energy consumption to operate these vehicles will be shouldered by the university, Director Hilario Sean Palmiano of the National Center for Transportation Studies (NCTS) said.
The possible areas of service include the Hardin ng Rosas along Carlos P. Garcia Ave., College of Science (CS) Complex, and Engineering Complex, Palmiano said. Passengers need not pay for transportation fees during the two-month testing period.
“Makukuha kasi [ng mga e-tricycle] yung mga sasakay… mawawalan kami ng pasahero sa [Hardin ng] Rosas [at] sa Engineering, naroon din yung karamihan ng sakay namin,” dela Cruz said.
Meanwhile, the NCTS director assured that the operation of the electric vehicles will have a different route to avoid competition with the jeepney drivers.
Some of the e-trikes will also act as messengerial units for delivery of official documents among academic and administrative offices since it would be inefficient to have a separate mode of transmission for each office, Castro said.
Should the testing period yield positive results, there is a possibility that UP will purchase the vehicles or apply for donation although not directly to BEMAC, he added.
“Sa tingin ko beneficial [ito]… hindi lang naman kasi CS students ang kadalasan na nasa CS Complex. Since electricity pa ‘yung gamit [nito], maganda ito para sa environment,” Sophomore Applied Physics student Jasmine Abella said.
However, dela Cruz contested the idea of UP’s potential move to approve the permanent operation of e-trikes in the campus after the two-month testing period.
“Maraming may mga pamilya [ang mga jeepney driver] rito, sana maintindihan naman nila yung mga nasa mababang [kalagayan] sa lipunan,” dela Cruz said.