ILOILO City – This southern city is being eyed as test area for an electric tricycle.
BEMAC Electric Transportation Philippines plans to test its 68VM e-trike for a month to gauge its viability as a sustainable public transport and its impact to the environment.
A memorandum of understanding with the city government is needed but the Sangguniang Panlungsod wants to consult the Land Transportation Office (LTO) first before giving Mayor Jose Espinosa III the authority to sign an agreement with BEMAC.
Specifically, it wants to be clarified about the electric tricycle’s classification and its registration.
Under Republic Act 8794 or the Motor Vehicle User’s Charge (MVUC), any new model of motor vehicle in the market must be properly classified prior its registration with the LTO.
The law also provides that the operation of e-trikes shall be limited within or along barangay roads.
They can only pass the main thoroughfares, highways or national roads 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 the Japanese vehicle industry. Uzushio developed over 50 different models of vehicles that ran on public roads for more than 50 years in Japan.
The e-trike has a passenger capacity of seven including its driver.
It has a maximum speed of 50 kilometers per hour./PN
