Various ecologically-friendly initiatives specifically in the field of sustainable mobility are now being introduced.
Atty. Bodie Pulido, Executive Director of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) revealed that one such project is the Electric Bicycle (eBike) Sharing Program launched by Meralco last year within its sprawling Pasig compound. “Twenty eBikes were secured by Meralco from Alternative Energy Trailblazers, Inc. (AET) which are being allowed for use by employees and personnel within the complex”.
“AET is a member of EVAP, which supports electric vehicle initiatives such as this as it promotes sustainable mobility and encourages the use of EVs in the country. The Meralco eBike sharing program is the first of its kind in the country and EVAP is advocating that more initiatives similar to this will be established in campuses, compounds, industrial parks and local government units (LGUs) within the year”, says Pulido.
Per the experience of Meralco in the eBike sharing program, the electric bikes can travel a distance of up to 40 kms per full charge, and can be pedaled once the charge runs out, which makes its range virtually limitless while at the same time being noise- and pollution-free. The bikes are available at 3 eBike Stations positioned near the different buildings in the compound, which allows the employees a quick facility for point-to-point transfer from one area to another.
EVAP President Rommel Juan explains that Meralco has been an ardent supporter of the EV industry from the very start. “Since 2010, it has deployed eJeepneys and eShuttles inside its compound to ferry employees, visitors and guests. In 2013, it launched the prototype EV Charging Station which they have started to propagate through corporate partnerships with Net Lima building in Fort Bonifacio and Ateneo de Manila University in Loyola Heights, QC.
“We hope to see more of these eco-friendly partnerships and initiatives very soon since in a business trip to China last year, EVAP was able to secure a tie up with the China Bicycle Association (CBA) to get us into the supply chain loop and facilitate the supply of electric bikes for the various eBike sharing programs planned throughout the country”, Juan concludes.
The Meralco eBike Sharing Program will be showcased at the Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit 2015.
The EVAP will have its annual Electric Vehicle Summit at the Meralco Multi Purpose Hall, Ortigas, Pasig on February 26-27,2015.
For inquiries, please contact the EVAP Secretariat at 9307003, mobile 09239432073 or email secretariat.evap@gmail.com. Or you may check out the EVAP Facebook page for more details.
