Philippines: Electric Jeepneys start plying Makati roads

Makati City, 20 November 2007–Two electric-powered Jeepneys or
E-Jeepneys will start plying Makati City’s streets today as part of a
pilot testing phase to fine tune the innovative transport’s adaptability
as a commercial public transport in the country’s premier business
district. The E-Jeepneys, presented to the public in a press launch in
the city last July 4 by the Makati City Government, Green Independent
Power Producer (GRIPP), and Greenpeace, will now follow a daily route
within Bel-Air Village going to Rockwell Center, picking up passengers
hourly for two months as part of its longer commercial and technical
testing.

“We are very optimistic about the E-Jeepneys’ test phase and envision
this mode of transport to soon become a common sight in Makati City. The
E-Jeepneys will offer a cheaper fuel alternative to jeepney drivers
while creating a positive impact in the city’s air quality,” said Makati
City Mayor Jejomar Binay.

The Electric Jeepney concept is a component of GRIPP’s Climate Friendly
Cities Project, a multi-pronged initiative that aims to contribute to
climate change mitigation, sustainable transport, and waste management
by introducing renewable energy-based technologies. Its goal is to
introduce an alternative to the local, diesel-based, small public
transport system that will not only reduce air pollution, carbon
emissions, and the solid waste stream but will also provide enhanced
incomes to the drivers of these vehicles, as well as create new job
opportunities for the suppliers to the project.

Once the pilot testing of the E-Jeepneys is finished, the next phase
involves the construction of a bio-digester powerplant, where organic
waste from the city’s wet markets and restaurants will be converted to
electricity into which the E-Jeepneys will be plugged for charging. Use
of climate-change inducing fossil fuels will therefore be eliminated.

“The E-Jeepney is a no-regrets solution to environment-friendly public
transport. It is also a timely answer to rising oil prices. E-Jeepneys
consume about one sixth of the fuel costs associated with conventional
diesel fueled jeepneys and does not contribute to air pollution.
E-Jeepneys are further meant to avoid using fossil fuels, thus helping
mitigate the problem of climate change,” said GRIPP Chair and Founder
Athena Ronquillo-Ballesteros.