Victory Liner allots P250M for electric bus project

MANILA, Philippines - Victory Liner, Inc. is prepared to invest as much as P250 million to put up a plant that will produce electric buses.

Victory Liner director for research and development Jan. H. Kierulf signed yesterday a memorandum of understanding with the Climate Change Commission, represented by Secretary Mary Ann Lucille L. Sering, to undertake research on electric-powered buses.

According to Sering, “the use of electric powered vehicles has been identified as one of the strategies under the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) to help reduce the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs).”

Under a program called “Victory Against Climate Change,” Victory Liner would undertake research on the feasibility of electric buses.

According to Kierulf, Victory Liner has invested P30 million to do research and has produced one prototype for testing and promotion.

Kierulf said Victory Liner, is prepared to invest an additional P250 million to put up a manufacturing plant to produce e-buses on the condition that government-through the proper entity-provides incentives for the importation of components for the manufacture of the e-buses, and that additional franchises would be extended for the green transport.

Sering assured that the Climate Change Commission would recommend and support a policy that will encourage the development and use of e-buses once the R&D proves the viability of such technology.

According to Kierulf, Victory Liner, plans to manufacture its own buses using technology provided by RAC of Taiwan.

The estimated cost of an e-bus would be around P8 million.

Kierulf said each e-bus is programmed to cover a distance of 240 kilometers on a six-hour charging of its battery.

He said the e-bus would be cheaper to operate than a diesel bus. An electric engine would be easier to maintain, and most of all it would no longer be a pollutant, Kierulf added.

Additionally, Kierulf cited the possibility of lower fares because of the cheaper cost of operating an e-bus.