Electric Trikes the Energy Solution?

[Jung]

I think this is a classic case of flawed thinking... Not necessarily an "Only in the Philippines" thing as I have seen this error made in many countries. But I do think there is a basic problem with the idea that electronic vehicles are a solution to the energy crisis.

Ok, while I agree that alternative sources of energy are needed and that pollution is quite bad across the country... HOWEVER, just where do they think electricity comes from? Especially here in the Philippines...

Yup, you got it in one guess; fossil fuels, oil and diesel!

So the only thing this will do will move the pollution and energy dependency on oil from one part of the country to another. And imagine what a million plus trikes all being charged each night will do to electricity costs?

So put me down in the "Undecided" camp. I do think this is at least a step in a positive direction just the fact that some here in the Philippines are at least starting to think green, which is great news. However, hybrid cars and trikes are the answer as this will lower costs and charging is not dependant on electric infrastructure. But hybrid technology is just too expensive right now...

YouTube - E-Trike electric tricycle philippines

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Philippines launches electric tricycles

Philippines launches electric tricycles - Â*Latest news around the world and developments close to home - MSN Philippines News

The Philippines wants to replace millions of petrol-powered tricycles with electric ones as part of efforts to clean up the nation's polluting mass transport system, President Benigno Aquino said Friday.

The government will initially replace 20,000 tricycles that ply minor streets across the capital Manila and eventually expand the project throughout the country, Aquino said in a speech to government employees.

It is hoped the scheme will save the impoverished country tens of millions of dollars annually.

"The (project) is an ambitious multi-year plan to wean public utility vehicles from the use of gasoline and diesel and to encourage them to shift to alternatives like natural gas, electricity and hybrid engines," he said.

"I would like to see the day when nearly all public utility vehicles... run on alternative fuel, freeing the public transport sector and commuters from the threat of unreasonably high oil prices and unhealthy levels of air pollution."

Aquino did not give a definite timetable of the programme, which was launched this week when 20 so-called "e-tricycles" hit the streets of a Manila suburb.

Manila-based Asian Development Bank, which is funding the initial stage of the project, said transport sector emissions accounted for 30 percent of all pollution in the Philippines.

In Manila, vehicle emissions account for 80 percent of all pollution, it said.

"A sizeable proportion of vehicle emissions are attributable to inefficient public transport, particularly from tricycles, jeepneys and buses," it added.

Jeepneys are colourful small buses that make up the backbone of the country's chaotic mass transport system, locally assembled using second-hand truck engines and transmission systems imported from Japan.

Sohail Hasnie, an energy specialist at Manila-based ADB, said more than 3.5 million tricycles operated in the Philippines.

These emitted more than 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide and burned nearly five billion dollars of fuel yearly.

"Every 20,000 e-trikes that are introduced to Manila's streets will save the Philippines 100,000 litres of foreign fuel imports each day, saving the country about 35 million dollars annually," Hasnie said.

Though the electronic tricycles, which use rechargeable lithium ion batteries, are costlier, older petrol tricycles are more than twice as expensive to operate in the long run, Hasnie added.

The carbon footprints of the e-trikes, which are locally produced, would be less than a quarter of conventional tricycles, the ADB said.

ADB officials said the Manila-based lender was now in talks with the Philippine government on supporting the expansion of the project.

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Peace,

- Jung

[Earthroamer]

Jung, you make a valid point. Not just Philippines, but other parts of the world too needs an alternative energy source for electricity itself. I've seen places where they harvest solar and wind for electricity. But for the most part, a very large area is needed for those solar panels to sufficiently power an entire country like Philippines, or a vast plain with strong gusts of wind to successfully harvest sufficient wind energy. Hmm, let's not forget about harnessing the ebb and flow of the tides to spin electrical turbines too...

Cost-wise, it might cost more to build the stuff mentioned above, but in the long run, it'll definitely be cheaper (and cleaner) to maintain than conventional electricity powered by fossil fuel. In my personal opinion, nuclear is out of the question - see what happened to Japan if a disaster should cripple the plant?

[Rhoody]

we had that kind of discussion 2 years back on another board, as I am too lazy to write new, I paste my opinion based on the technical specs of an e-trike and Dumaguete answering a post about efficiency of those vehicles ... (source)

I don't doubt the efficiency of that e-cars and scooters, there is no doubt about that, best example are cable-buses and trains...

but all what you say is pretty nice in "google-theory" and researches... but face the reality in a province town of a third world country (and you can see parts of the "modern" technology used in our City on the test models).
As I have a life outside google I give you more info about that vehicle. Yes, I spoke with one of the guys who drove it for a while

The object in the picture above has a range of about 80 km consistant driving. (60 in stop and go). That simply means it goes from Duma to Dauin and back. Could drive back to Dauin but need to be charged there for 8 to 10 hours.

you also don't want to tell me that a 1000 Watt electro-trike will carry 4-8 people plus shopping and school-bags. This are the specification of a e-bike sold in the philippines for trikes (without the "passenger cabin)

BATTERY TYPE: PLUMBUM ACID
RATED VOLTAGE: 60V (5 X 12V)
BATTERY CAPACITY: 60V (5 X 12V) 20AH
BRAKES-FRONT: DRUM OR DISC
BRAKES-REAR: DRUM
CHARGING TIME: 4-6 HOURS
CHARGING VOLTAGE: 110/220 V
CLIMBING CAPACITY: 30 DEGREES
DRIVING DISTANCE: 60 KM
LOADING CAPACITY: 250KG
SPEED: 50KM/HR

so we take a driver 65 kg,
a metal-wood cabin 80- 90 kg
what will leave about 100 kg loading capacity. As we know each other we know that this vehicle is already at the limit if each of sit alone in there (actually overloaded with me) so my girlfriend needs another trike.

Everybody here knows what happens to chinese electro-motors when overloaded...at least those who have a blender at home. Not talking how fast the battery would be flat...

Maybe I see it too black, I just try to bring the theoretical efficiency to Dumaguete and practical life here...

cheers

Rhoody