• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
The first electric jeepney manufactured by a Chinese firm has arrived in Bacolod City for a test run to determine if it is viable, feasible, or a better alternative mode of public transportation, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said.
Benitez said the manufacturer, Jiangsu Fengchuen New Energy Power Technology, will be sending two more units of the 22-seater e-jeepneys to Bacolod. It will be targeting the public transportation market so they have to show the manufacturer that it is viable to the operators.
“Once determined that it is viable to them (operators), then we will encourage importation first. The manufacturer is looking at an initial 300 importations once everything is finalized. After that, they will start building e-jeepneys here,” he said.
Benitez signed a memorandum of understanding in February with the Chinese firm which plans to put up a P10 billion plant in Bacolod City that will manufacture e-jeepneys.
The mayor said the price of each e-jeepney will be less than P2 million compared to the modernized jeepneys that cost about P2.6 million to P2.9 million.
Each unit will be allocated two batteries which will be charged in charging stations that will be established in the city, Benitez said.
They have yet to determine the route of the e-jeepneys, he said.*
