Terra Motors to launch T4 e-trike

The Japanese firm that produced the first working e-trike unit in the country is set to commercially produce its T4 model based on the Department of Energy’s (DOE) design.

Terra Motors Corp. is now hiring workers to man its production, logistics, sales and marketing posts.

The T4 model will be commercially available in early 2014. The model will be showcased at the Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit 2013 at the Meralco compound in Ortigas next week, Terra Motors said.

Terra Motors is in talks with various local governments and potential fleet owners who want to deploy electric vehicles (EVs) to save on fuel costs, company business development director Shimpei Kato said.

On the bidding for the Philippine e-trike project to be conducted by Asian Development Bank, Terra Motors will be included on the so-called “short list” of companies that may be awarded the supply contract for 100,000 e-trikes to be deployed on Philippine roads by 2016, the company said.

The DOE is working with the ADB to promote the adoption of e-trikes first in Metro Manila and, later, throughout the country, to curb oil imports and pollution.

Terra Motors is now looking for an ideal site to put up its electric vehicle factory in the Philippines, Kato said.

The $20 million the company said it would invest in the Philippines would fund the establishment of its factory as well as EV dealerships, Kato explained.

Terra Motors CEO Toru Tokushige earlier said the Japanese firm is considering making the Philippines a hub for EV (e-trikes, e-bikes, and related products) manufacturing and distribution in Asia. Outside Japan (its home market) and the Philippines, the company has EV orders from other markets.