Changing the face of PH transport, one ‘e-trike’ at a time

LEE turning over the Züm e-trikes to Air21 CEO Jara

After investing P107 million for the manufacture and assembly of three-wheeled electric-powered motorcycles (e-trikes) for sale to local government units as well as private firms and individuals, EMotors has recently announced its latest partnership with total logistics solutions provider Air21.

EMotors, which employed rechargeable lead acid or lithium-ion battery to run the electric motor that powers its e-trikes has delivered several units of ZüM (pronounced as “zoom”) e-trikes to Air21.

“As the leading provider of logistics solutions in the country, we are always looking for innovative ways to increase our efficiency to better serve our clients while at the same time, fulfill our environmental policies by helping clean our air by adding the ZüM e-trikes to our fleet,” says Jerry Jara, CEO of Air21, which recently celebrated its 32nd anniversary.

With the delivery of Züm e-trikes, Air21 becomes the first in the local logistics industry to incorporate electric-powered vehicles in its fleet.

The ZüM e-trike augments Air21’s current fleet. The company expects to reap the benefits of cost reduction and efficiency with low acquisition costs, lower maintenance costs, lower cost of “fuel” sourced from electricity versus gasoline, as well as providing a clean and green fleet that can expand the company’s coverage serving more clients at a faster turnover rate.

Proud

“We are proud to team up with Air21 in our common goal of environmental responsibility by choosing to use clean, zero emission vehicles to help clean our air and help mitigate the effects of climate change, while at the same time support local manufacturing and generate jobs,” says EMotors CEO Beth Lee.

The 100-percent Filipino-owned company is the country’s first manufacturer and assembler of electric-powered tricycles to be registered with the Board of Investment’s Motor Vehicle Development Program (BOI-MVDP) under Executive Order No. 156.

It is also the first to be registered with the country’s EO 226 or Investments Priority Plan, supporting one of President Aquino’s thrusts to clean the environment, lessen pollution, and clean the air.

Thanks to the BOI registration, EMotors enjoys income tax holidays and one percent duty on imported capital equipment.

Alternative solution

“EMotors’ goal is to provide a local alternative solution to transport that can help lessen our carbon footprint. We have to take responsibility for our environment by integrating as much as possible, the use of zero-emission vehicles in our businesses. EMotors provides the solution for that need,” Lee said.

Based on the Asian Development Bank study, E-trike drivers will save upwards of $5 (around P200) a day in fuel costs. E-trikes have also a capacity to carry more passengers than the ordinary tricycles, which would enable e-trike drivers to more than double their daily income.

Last year, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) rolled out its $300-million (P12-billion) electric tricyle project with the aim of replacing 100,000 gasoline-fuelled tricycles with clean, energy efficient e-trikes, on a “lease-to-own” arrangement.

At present, more than 3.5 million gasoline-fed tricycles ply the country’s roads, producing more than 10 million tons of carbon dioxide and consuming nearly $5 billion (P200 billion) in imported fuel yearly.

The ADB believed replacing the 100,000 gasoline-engine trikes would result in savings of more than $100 million (around P4 billion) a year in fuel imports, while decreasing annual carbon dioxide emissions by about 260,000 tons.