Manila, to remove gasoline-run tricycles and pedicabs starting October 15

Gasoline-powered tricycles and pedicabs, will soon be phased out in the city of Manila, according to Manila City Mayor Joseph Estrada.

E-TRIKES. Goodbye smoke-belching vehicles, hello e-trikes. (Image grabbed from philstar.com)

On October 15, the said vehicles shall be phased out in order to transform Manila into an “e-trike” (electronic trikes) capital. According to Estrada’s interview with THE STAR, “We want Manila to become the e-trike capital of the Philippines and to make Manila a green city,” he said.

The said phasing out of these vehicles is because of Manila’s transition to use e-trikes instead.  The city government has allotted an initial amount of P120 million to buy 10,000 e-trikes that can seat 7 persons. These e-trikes can also be fully charged in 4 hours and can travel up to 80 kilometers.

According to Estrada, these e-trikes shall be distributed to qualified tricycle drivers and residents who will lose income from the phase out. Drivers and residents will also use an orange-colored uniform.

As reported by the Philippine Star, with the e-trike program, drivers do not need to spend for gasoline.  “The battery charging will be shouldered by the city government,” Estrada said. Under the e-trike program the vehicles will have to pay P150 to P200 per day for four years.

There will be available pickup stations and two charging stations for them. Binondo is the pilot area, but there will be stations in the university belt and Port Area, among others.

 

Source: Philstar, Coconuts Manila