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. -http://www.greenepeace.org
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