A company engaged in electric vehicle industry has expressed its interest to pilot test its electric tricycle in Iloilo City.
In a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the BEMAC Electric Transportation Philippines, it will provide a unit of 68VM e-trike for a month to “measure its feasibility and viability as an environment friendly and sustainable transportation in the city”.
The unit has a passenger capacity of seven including its driver. It has a maximum speed of 50 kilometer per hour.
There is no definite date yet to start the test due to the absence of MOU.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod deferred giving authority to City Mayor Jose Espinosa III to sign the MOU as they still have to consult the Land Transportation Office (LTO) regarding the classification and the registration of the e-trike.
Meantime, Republic Act No. 8794 or the Motor Vehicle User’s Charge (MVUC) provides that any new model of motor vehicle in the market must be properly classified prior its registration with the LTO, according to a document furnished to Councilor Eduardo Peñaredondo on Wednesday.
E-trike, which is a motor vehicle powered by electrical energy from rechargeable batteries, shall be classified as motorcycle-tricycle.
The law also provides that its operation shall be limited within or along barangay roads only.
It can only pass the main thoroughfares, highways or national road for purposes of crossing only when the barangay road is divided by a highway, main thoroughfares, or the national road.
BEMAC is a domestic subsidiary of Uzushio Electric Co. Ltd., a pioneer in Japanese vehicle industry.
Uzushio developed over 50 different models that ran on public roads for more than 50 years in Japan. (By Perla Lena, PNA)
