The Philippine Department of Energy (DOE) announced a contest to design an Electric Tricycle that could be used in Philippine roads. The contest is officially launched with a title of : “Bright Now! Do Right. Be Bright. Go E-trike!”
In partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the DOE is promoting an National Electric Vehicle Strategy program for the Philippines that includes an electric tricycle among the modes of acceptable transportation, along with other electrically powered vehicles.
According to the article, the Contest mechanics in a nutshell are:
The design-an-e-trike contest is open to all Filipino citizens of legal age (18 years old and above), whether individual or group residing in the Philippines. Contestant/s must generate 2D and 3D computer-aided drawings of the best aesthetic and functional design for the prospect Philippine E-trike look (AutoCAD). Entries should feature a design that can accommodate a maximum of six passengers excluding the driver. It must also be a three-wheeled electric vehicle.
Can’t seem to find any data as to what the contest prize will be. As for electric tricycles, there are already a slew of electric tricycles plying the streets of some cities in the Philippines. Not so easily noticeable because of their electric nature, they aren’t easily seen or heard due to the quiet operation of their electric motors. In order to make them easily adapted by the driving public they first have to surpass or at least meet the performance of current fossil fuel based motorcycles. Chiefly they must have at least the same range as a fossil fuel powered motorcycle and be affordable in cost. Without that, they will just be a novelty.
I consider this a great step for the DOE to promote electric vehicle use in the country. Something that is desperately needed for a country like ours who don’t have substantial fossil fuel reserves that allows us not to be easily swayed by the fluctuating oil prices.
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Category: Automotive, Electric Car
