Boracay to get 15 new electric tricycles

The municipal government of Malay will launch the Electric Tricycle (e-trike) Program in this island resort on January 17.

At least 15 new units of e-trikes will be made available to beneficiaries of the program, said Dante Pagsuguiron, former Sangguniang Bayan (SB) member of Malay.

The Malay government had undertaken the program to do away with conventional tricycles in the island.

Unlike traditional tricycles, which are fueled with gasoline, e-trikes are powered by rechargeable batteries and thus more environment-friendly and energy-efficient.

Tricycles are the major mode of transport in Boracay.

“During the launching, there will be a signing of a memorandum of agreement between representatives of the BPI Globe Bangko, [the municipal government of] Malay and the  Gerweiss [Motors Corp.],” Pagsuguiron said.

Among those expected to participate in the launching are representatives of the Boracay Foundation Inc. and the Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., and the e-trike operators.

Designed and manufactured by Gerweiss Motors Corp., these ecologically friendly vehicles will replace conventional tricycles as the main mode of transportation in Boracay, Pagsuguiron has said in an interview last year.

The former SB member has said the Malay government will gradually phase out conventional tricycles until 2015, when the e-trikes will “dominate” the island streets.

Built ideally for the island resort’s terrain, the fiberglass-made e-trikes could accommodate 10 passengers each.

E-trikes are powered by rechargeable batteries.

Pilot charging stations will be put up in Brgy. Manoc-Manoc, near the fire station, and in Sitio Diniwid, Brgy. Balabag, Pagsuguiron has said./