Electric tricycles provide affordable and convenient transportation for many commuters in urban centers. But last week, citing public safety concerns, the Metro Manila Council (MMC) through the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) approved a resolution banning e-trikes, e-bikes, and other light electric vehicles from national, circumferential, and radial roads in the National Capital Region with a fine of P2,500 to be imposed on violators.
The e-trikes ban has become controversial, as reflected by the Inquirer’s editorial (“Making our roads safer,” Mar. 04) and Doy Romero’s Inquirer column (“MMDA’s knee-jerk ban on e-bikes,” Mar. 05), the Manila Standard’s editorial (“Timely move for safety’s sake,” Mar. 04), Roberto Siy, Jr., co-convenor of Move As One Coalition’s Manila Times column (“Anti-people, anti-environment, anti-health and pro-traffic,” Mar. 02) and the Philippine Star’s headline (“Ban on e-trikes could worsen congestion,” Mar. 02).
While the MMDA, the Metro Manila Council, and the commuting public grapple with the various effects of the e-trike ban on their individual worlds, the question naturally arises what impact it would have on the electric vehicle industry’s development. The national government supports and promotes the EV sector, as shown by the enactment of the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA, or Republic Act No. 11697) in 2022, and the Department of Energy’s Comprehensive Roadmap for the Electric Vehicle Industry (CREVI.)
MOST AFFECTED. Asked how the ban will impact the EV industry, Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) president Edmund Araga said, “Nothing much of an impact, but more of seeing a better potential now that commuters and other individuals are aware of considering a shift to EVs.” He added that the ones most affected would be the individuals who operate and make use of e-trikes as a form of public transportation.
Araga revealed that most of the light EV units being sold in the country are imported and do not meet the standards or comply with other certifications in addressing road safety. But some light EV units supplied by EVAP members do meet the necessary requirements and are registered with the Land Transportation Office, he said.
Corollary to safety concerns and mandating the registration of light EVs, Senator Francis Tolentino, formerly head of the MMDA, said the LTO should ensure that e-trike and e-bike owners only use chargers authorized by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP). He said that while a legitimate and BFP-authorized charger automatically shuts down when the EV has been fully charged, a counterfeit charger usually emits smoke and bursts into flames when the EV is overcharged. The BFP suspected that faulty chargers caused several fire incidents in Metro Manila, Tolentino said.
PLANS. As to what the EVAP plans to do about the e-trikes ban on major roads, Araga referred to the EVAP’s statement written by EVAP executive director Dr. Manny Biona. In the statement, EVAP says it welcomes the government’s effort to revisit LTO Administrative Order 2021039 which mandates that slower electric mopeds and e-trikes with maximum speeds less than 25 kph can only be operated on private and barangay roads or in bikeways, and are not required to be registered, and drivers need not have licenses.
EVAP concedes that on the ground realities have shown that these road access regulations have been repeatedly violated, putting both their drivers and other commuters at risk and slowing down traffic flow. The lack of registration and no need for a driver’s license have encouraged their irresponsible use and, in violation of current regulations, their prevalent use as public transportation.
PROPOSALS. To balance the mobility benefits and the need for order and safety on the roads, EVAP says it proposes expanding the access of light EVs to the outermost parts of selected roads as identified by the LGU, provided that they are registered and operated by duly licensed drivers.
EVAP maintains that electric autorickshaws and light electric quadricycles may not be used for public transport due to their limited payload and robustness of construction. Only the more robust electric 3-wheelers should be used for public transport, but only within the context of applicable laws, including restrictions to traverse and major roads, EVAP’s statement avers.
In short, EVAP recommends further enhancing the provisions of LTO AO 2021-039, the technical aspects of which were supplied by EVAP itself.
RATIONALIZE. In addition, EVAP suggests that the operation of 2-3 wheeled EVs and their service routes should be rationalized relative to the other public transport modes, including jeepneys, UV Express, buses, and light railways as applicable.
The EVAP statement concludes with the lament that the uncertainty on the role of public tricycles prevents the electric vehicle industry from developing and producing more technically appropriate and affordable units, while simultaneously, it has discouraged some investors to venture into their production. As has been earlier pointed out by EVAP president Araga, most of the light 2-3 wheeled EVs in use today are imported.
