MANILA — The Department of Energy (DOE) has rebranded its electric tricycle (e-trike) program and is now called the Tricycle Modernization Program.
In a press conference during the launch of “E-Power Mo!” on Wednesday at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City, Energy Utilization and Management Bureau director Patrick Aquino said the rebranding is part of the agency’s efforts to align it with the overall transport modernization program of the government.
“We’ve worked to have a language that softens it to be more in line with what you are seeing in the PUJ (public utility jeepney) modernization program of the DOTr (Department of Transportation) wherein we offer low-financing, no cash-out, (and) no downpayment,” Aquino said.
Aquino said the agency is targeting complete rollout of the e-trike units within the year.
Aquino said one of the major changes in the e-trike program is opening it up to other channels for distribution, particularly allowing private sector participation.
The business model was also tweaked wherein the physical units have been separated from the charging infrastructure and battery. Aquino said this new model is viable for duplication and sustainability.
“We are just waiting for the amendments to proceed… The target of DOF (Department of Finance), ADB (Asian Development Bank) and DOE to have these amendments in place is before the end of the month of July,” he said.
The e-trike program aims to deliver at least 100,000 e-trike units to selected local government units to replace gasoline-fed tricycles and create lithium-ion battery supply chain in the country. Filane Mikee Cervantes/PNA-northboundasia.com