SITE MAP  | CONTACT US

Electric Jeepneys Offer Cleaner, Sustainable Alternative to Diesel Vehicles
ADB should replicate ‘climate friendly cities’ initiative
By Athena Ronquillo-Ballesteros, Greenpeace

Vehicle emissions are a major contributor to worsening air pollution levels in Asia. At the same time, the transport sector is the fastest growing contributor to increased global GHG emissions. The Asian Development Bank is presented with a major opportunity to help drive Asian cities to choosing cleaner forms of public transportation relying purely on renewable energy. The pilot fleet of six electric jeepneys launched recently in the cities of Makati and Bacolod forms part of a larger multi-pronged integrated sustainable transport and waste management project: the climate friendly cities project (CFC).

The climate friendly cities (CFC) project seeks to provide clean energy solutions to address a range of urban environmental problems common in most Asian cities while creating innovative solutions for mitigating climate change through a commercially-viable and income-generating business model. Developed by various partner organizations led by the Green Renewable Independent Power Producer Project, Inc. (GRIPP), Greenpeace and Solar Electric Co, the idea is to revolutionize some of the most iconic public transportation vehicles in the mega cities of Asia by powering them with electricity from biogas, a renewable energy source. The bio-power plant will utilize the city’s food waste as feedstock to produce gas that will, in turn, be used to generate electricity to power the fleet of electric jeepneys.

The original Philippine jeepney is a cultural icon, first manufactured by World War II mechanics from leftover vehicles of American troops. The jeepney’s flamboyant design is instantly recognizable and synonymous for us here in the Philippines. The jeeps were then refurbished to accommodate several passengers, added metal roof for shade and decorated with vibrant colors and bright ornaments making them a popular and creative public transportation vehicles. But while it provides one of the cheapest means of commuting, the diesel-based jeeps are major source of air pollutants, posing a health risk for drivers and commuters. They are also highly inefficient and exact a heavy toll on drivers’ pockets with high fuel and maintenance costs. The fuel use for example of a 16-passenger jeepney is almost equal to a 54-passenger air-conditioned bus. With major roads clogged by empty jeepneys cruising for fares, there is a threat to sideline the jeeps from the streets of Metro Manila and other cities.

For the pilot cities Makati and Bacolod, the potential environmental, economic, health and social benefits of the project are obvious: reduction of greenhouse gas emissions such as CO2 and methane; reduction of air pollutants; containment of leachate that contaminate ground water aquifers and waterways; treatment of organic waste of its pathogenic and toxic materials; and improved local air, health and safety.

More importantly the electric jeepneys will provide two to three times more income to the vehicles’ drivers. The gross amount of fares that a driver collects in a day is roughly 1800-2000 pesos. From that, he spends at least 800 pesos to purchase diesel and an average of 400-500 as hire payments to the jeepney owner/operator (locally known as ‘boundary’). On a good day, he returns home with 240 pesos. On a bad day, he may end up owing. The electric jeepneys will significantly increase by two to three times more the net take home pay of the drivers by reducing their expenses on fuel. It also intends to demonstrate to operators that electric jeepneys are a viable investment because reduced maintenance costs will increase financial returns.

While the electric jeepney fleet is a first in Southeast Asia, each of the CFC project components already exist and implemented in various countries. There is the successful case of the electric SAFA Tempos (mini-buses) in Nepal; there are biogas digesters in many parts of Asia, then there are community charging stations for solar systems in several communities in the region. The transport and waste management service aspects have been tested reliably in the past and are therefore market ready. The only real innovation introduced by the Project is the ‘manner in which the technologies are made to work together’ and this requires careful planning. The integration of the sustainable transport, waste management and recharging components into one cohesive package of cleaner, safer, renewable energy options is indeed an embodiment of our vision – the energy revolution.

This is where the ADB’s role becomes critical. If we are serious about averting dangerous climate change, we need a fundamental shift in the way we produce and consume energy.

The climate friendly cities project is only a small step towards this vision.