05 July 2007 - Makati
City, Philippines — Over four years ago
we dreamed of revolutionising some of the
most iconic public transportation vehicles
in Asia by powering them with renewable
energy. Now our dream is real as we watched
the first two electric jeepneys take off
on one of the busiest streets of Metro Manila
in the Philippines.
Cultural icon of the Philippines, the flamboyantly
designed jeepney was initially constructed
from leftover American World War 2 troop
vehicles. While providing one of the cheapest
means of commuting, the diesel-guzzlers
are notorious air polluters, posing a health
risk for drivers and commuters.
A 16 passenger jeepney uses nearly the
same amount of fuel as a 54 passenger air-conditioned
bus. With major urban roads clogged by empty
jeepneys cruising for fares, there is a
government threat to remove the jeepneys
from the streets of major cities.
Athena Ronquillo Ballesteros is a long
serving climate campaigner for Greenpeace
based in Manilla and is passionate about
making change happen on a local as well
as global level. She is also a Green Renewable
Independent Power Producer Inc. (GRIPP)
founder and Board Chair.
"It was 4, maybe 5 years ago while
walking down the streets of Manila that
we dreamed of an electric tuktuk for Thailand,
and an electric jeepney for the Philippines.
Now, our dream has come true. It's indeed
a magical moment. People from all walks
of life gathered with much excitement as
we watched the first two electric jeepneys
take off on one of the busiest streets of
Metro Manila, Makati City.
Working with GRIPP we launched the Climate
Friendly Cities project to address climate
change, urban air pollution and waste management
issues in major cities in the region. The
trial is taking place in Negros, a Philippino
province that made history by stopping construction
of a coal power plant because of sustained
community-led opposition.
The fleet of electric jeepneys will grow
from a pilot set of six to 50. The vehicles
will run on batteries charged overnight
by a power plant fuelled by biogas generated
from the organic waste from the city's markets
and households.
For cities like Makati, the environmental,
economic, health and social benefits of
this project will include cleaner air, better
waste management, a healthier population
and most importantly a significant contribution
to curbing dangerous climate change.
While the electric jeepney fleet is a first
in Southeast Asia, each of the project components
already exist elsewhere - electric buses
in Nepal, biogas generators in many parts
of Asia and community charging stations
for solar systems in off-grid communities.
The ‘magic’ of the project lies in the integration
into a cohesive package of cleaner, safer,
renewable energy options. It is a concrete
embodiment of our energy revolution vision.
By 2050 the transport sector will constitute
more than 30 percent of the global greenhouse
gas emissions. This small step if replicated
and scaled up could make a significant contribution
to avoiding emissions from fossil fuelled
vehicles. The iconic jeepney remains, but
without wasteful and carbon emitting diesel.
The electric jeepneys will also significantly
increase incomes of the vehicles’ drivers
by reducing their expenses on fuel, demonstrating
to operators that electric jeepneys are
a viable investment because reduced maintenance
costs increase financial returns.
The electric jeepney represents three good
things in one: It's a good for the local
environment, a win for the climate and benefits
the local economy.
