Electric jeepneys boost eco-tourism

The La Mesa Watershed and Ecological Park in Quezon City, which had been declared an eco-tourism destination, is using the electric jeepney as attraction in addition to the natural beauty of its hilly terrain and rich forest cover.

Managed by the Bantay Kalikasan of the ABS-CBN Foundation of Gina Lopez, the La Mesa Ecopark has been granted by the Department of Tourism two electric jeepneys for use in shuttling tourists inside the vast mountainous terrain.

The electric jeepneys, which were bought by the DOT and lent to the foundation, are environment friendly as their engines do not burn diesel but use batteries that are rechargeable from an ordinary electric outlet.

The jeepneys were launched at the EcoPark late July by no less than President Arroyo and newly appointed Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes (who was previously secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources).

Solarco president Robert L. Puckett—whose company got the exclusive rights to import and distribute these units from China—said many other local governments are determined to launch the electric jeepneys in their eco-tourism development. Among them are Puerto Princesa (with Mayor Ed Hagedorn); San Fernando, La Union   (Mayor Pabs Ortega); Baguio City (Mayor Reinaldo Bautista); Silay City in Negros Occidental; Iloilo City and Surigao and Butuan in Mindanao.

The Ateneo de Manila Loyola Heights campus in Quezon City also bought from Solarco one unit of the electric jeepney to shuttle its students, faculty and the priests from one building to another and to replace the polluting and noisy tricycles that ply its erstwhile pristine and quiet campus.

  “Actually, the priests love the electric jeepney so much because it is quiet and clean and very conducive for learning,” Puckett said.

The electric jeepneys were first launched July 4, 2007 by the Green Renewable Independent Power Producers (GRIPP), a consortium of green fuel advocates that includes Solar Electric Co. and Greenpeace Philippines. The launch was graced by Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, Puckett and Greenpeace Philippines head Von Hernandez.

The Makati launch gave the Philippines a much-needed boost to its image in the world when the electric jeepneys grabbed the global headlines and television screens from Singapore, India and other parts of Asia, the US and even Europe.

 Solarco gave the design and visual displays for the jeepneys to the electric car manufacturer in China last year and intended to launch the jeepneys in Bacolod early this year. What happened was, the Bacolod launch came after Makati.

 Since electric jeepneys are very new in the Philippine market, a lot of people are quite apprehensive of its practicality and cost.

“However, when I told them that the retail price of the jeepney is only P550,000 (cheaper than most locally manufactured jeepneys) then they are convinced that it is practical and environmentally beneficial,” Puckett said .

The jeepneys have very little, if any, maintenance cost aside from being easy to maintain. One person can replace the battery very quickly, he added.

“We are putting after sales service centers soon but for now, the buyer can just call our office and we will dispatch a technician or repairman to replace the batteries,” he added.

The cost for charging the electric jeepney using a regular electrical outlet for eight hours is P120 to P160. Compare this to the daily cost of diesel paid by the driver which is P1,000 to P1,200, Puckett said.

An eight-hour charging of the batteries is good for running 100 kilometers a day, he added.