Electric Powered Vehicles: In Or Out

The latest “caravan” held by a transport group against electrically powered jeepneys replacing their diesel powered jeepneys raises the question, are Filipinos ready for electric powered vehicles?

QEV Sarao Electric Jeepney Campos Racing Philippines 4

Back in the early 2000 different car manufacturers came out with hybrid cars, electric and petrol powered. The cost was too high and the choices were limited, so Filipino motorists did not even consider owning one.

However, this year, there are vehicles which are 100% electric powered, not only did choices increase but these cars are also sporty and fast. Tesla Inc. is the leading manufacturer of electric vehicles or EV. Headquartered in Palo Alto Ca. Tesla Inc came out with the Roadster the first electric sports car.

What are the Pros and Cons of an EV

Pros

  1. Home charging- never go to a gas station again. Pull in your driveway or garage and plug the car into an electric outlet. Leave it charging overnight and the next day the car is ready to travel 128 kilometers minimum.
  2. Quiet and smooth- an EV is very quiet, no combustion or compression to make any noise. The EV is also very smooth and makes petrol powered vehicles sound clunky and loud.
  3. No Emissions- EVs don’t even have tailpipes. No harmful smoke emissions coming out of the vehicles, therefore, less harm to the environment.
  4. Cheaper to operate- this will depend if you find gasoline prices more expensive than paying the electric bill.

Cons

  1. Limited range- a full charge will take you 128 KM which is far and enough for everyday driving but out of town trips and cross country trips may be difficult.
  2. Higher Cost- EVs are more expensive than petrol cars. If sold in the open they cheapest would be 1.5 million pesos (based on dollar price tag).
  3. Not much SUV choices- most EVs are mid -sized sedans and knowing the Filipino fascination for Pick-up trucks and SUVs they consumer would opt for a petrol powered Pick-up truck and SUV. There are plans to come out with more models in the future.
  4. Charging time- it takes about an hour of charging to add about 30 km travel distance to the car. For some that’s too long, refueling takes less than 10 minutes.

So, what do you think of the e-Jeepneys? Are they in or out?