THE DEPARTMENT of Science and Technology, together with the Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), is developing the country’s first electric vehicle (EV) for mass transportation.
Leading the development of the EV is engineer Romeo Marave, who owns the rights to a prototype EV. He is being assisted by the DOST-Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research Development (PCIERD), the MIT School of Mechanical Engineering and several PEZA-accredited private firms, including an organization of motor car battery companies and a group that makes motoring parts.
In an interview, DOST-PCIERD Deputy Director Raul Sabularse said the EV project entered by the three agencies will focus more on improving the engine earlier developed by Marave.
The first EV prototype was already tested by the MIT group. It has a payload of 1, 000 kilograms for a 70-kilometer run. Marave’s EV traveled the distance with an eight-hour charge at a cost of just P2.07 pesos per kilometer, or P144.90 for the entire 70-km trip.
The project is also aimed at lowering the use of gasoline-powered vehicles in cities, villages and subdivisions.
“We’re still working on the lower weight-to-power ratio of Marave’s vehicle. It also needs technical improvements before it can be commercially viable. We’re also looking into minimizing recharging time and building the car with much lighter materials,” according to Sabularse, who also heads the DOST-PCIERD’s alternative fuels project.
Sabularse noted that while other car manufacturers such as Honda and Toyota have already tested their own electric-hybrid vehicles, the Philippine EV will not compete with these and will instead have a niche market of users in the Philippines.
“We won’t be seeing any electric-powered jeepneys soon but some city-driving cars will be powered by electricity. Eventually, we’ll be working with power-charging stations for these types of vehicles,” Sabularse said.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:06 pm
wag nga kayong pasaway! ginagawan na nga ng paraan panay kayo NEGATIVE jan. ugali talaga ng mga selosong tao yang di pa na umpisahan puro na pintas at negatibo sinasabi. Supportahan nyo nalang at tayo-tayo rin naman makinabang at wag pasaway!
December 4th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
Sana marealized ng mga taong nasa pwesto kung gano kaimportante ang mga inovation at invention ng mga kapatid nating pinoy para maiahon yong quality of life ng mga pilipino at ng buong mondo. Sana gumawa kayo ng batas para palakasin at suportahan ang ating mga inventor. Tingnan nyo yong ibang bansa gaya ng korea di hamak na mahirapsila kaysa satin noon,eh ngayon mas nakakaangat na sila sa atin.
November 30th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
this is not a comment, it is an appreciation to us people who created by God, which has an incredible mind to build or develop such thing in this world….keep up the good work because me,,i have an innovations of these so called EV.maybe soon, these will be realized.
October 28th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
kabayan, right now i’m in K.S.A. sa araw araw trabaho, napansin ko na dumarami ang mga sasakyan galing sa ibang bansa, pero nalungkot ako ni isa wala akong makitang Philippine made na Sasakyan, kundi lang yung lumang kinkalawang na Sarao sa gilid ng Travel Agency dito sa Saudi, aba yung pagong noon na tinawag nilang “sick man asia” eh ang lakas ngayon ano! kase ito ay dahil sa kayabangan at kasakiman ng ating mga nanunungkulan sa Gobyerno, bakit ko nasabing kayabangan abay akalain mong sabihing Filipino daw sila! abay lakas ng loob ng mga ito, ni hindi nila alam kung ano ang ibig pakahulugan ng isang Filipino dahil kung ikaw ay Filipino talaga, abay mahal mo ang iyong bansa at ng mga tao na nasa kinatawan nito, at para naman sa mga Inventor natin Huwag kayong susuko! ipagsigaw nyo sa lahat ng dako ng mundo kung ang klaseng meron galing ang Filipino! FROUND TO BE A PINOY!!!!!
October 15th, 2007 at 2:17 am
Tingnan din natin ang maintenance sa battery nyan, baka one or two years lang palit na agad. Kaya sa US di gaano nag-click ang electric car dahil sa mahal ng presyo ng batery palit ka ng palit.
Keep it up but need more research and study.