The Energy Department has opened the bidding for the supply and delivery of 3,000 units of energy efficient electric tricycles (e-trike).
“We are inviting interested bidders to join the renewed bidding process for the benefit not only of the electric transport industry, but of the ordinary Filipino citizens and tricycle drivers to enjoy an alternative mode of public transport,” Energy Undersecretary Donato Marcos said Tuesday.
The Asian Development Bank-funded project, under the Market Transformation through the Introduction of Energy-Efficient Electric Vehicles Project, is targeting local government units nationwide with an initial rollout of 3,000 units in the National Capital Region and the provinces in Region IV.
The E-Trike project aims to promote sustainable transport, address the increasing carbon emissions in major cities, and reduce oil dependence of the local transport sector.
The project also plans to transform the public tricycle sector and jump-start a new industry in the transport sector.
The Energy Department has made the bid documents available since February 26, 2015.
The department set the pre-bid conference on March 11, and the closing date and opening of bids on April 14.
The government is pursuing the $300-million program in cooperation with the ADB to replace replace 100,000 gasoline-fed trikes around the country by 2016.
Electric vehicles such as e-trikes are highly efficient, using up to 75 percent of their energy to power the vehicle against only 20 percent for most internal combustion engines.
The e-trike produces no noise and zero tailpipe emissions and can be charged at night during off-peak electricity hours.
A Japanese company in early February completed an assembly plant in Carmona, Cavite and was preparing to start mass production of three-wheeled electric vehicles that will replace traditional tricycles.
Bemac Electric Trans-portation Philippines Inc., formerly known as BEET Philippines, said the assembly line for electric vehicles was in place and ready for mass production.