E-vehicles, DOE's new venture as alternative energy source

Due to the finite supply of petroleum, countries are now developing technology running on alternative sources of energy.

In the transport sector, many countries have begun using vehicles run by electricity (e-vehicles).

In China for example, it is very common to see motorist parking their cars or motorcycles to charge up their vehicles. Israel will also be using e-vehicles by 2020 and will only allow military vehicles to use petroleum oil. Meanwhile, 100 percent of Singapore's transports are using natural gas.

The United States have already set one million electric cars running in their streets by 2014. And three cities in Australia have set to use e-vehicles by 2020.

Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras said during the Communication and News Exchange forum, Wednesday, that the Philippines is gradually catching up with this global trend.

The Department of Energy recently launched its e-trike (electric tricycle) project as part of the government's alternative fuel campaign.

Almendras said e-trikes will have economical and environmental advantages over the traditional tricycles. E-trikes will not contribute to air pollution as they are already run by electricity instead of fuel.

Further, tricycle drivers' income will also increase as they will only spend Php 80-Php 95 for recharging their e-trikes compared to their P200-P300 daily budget for gasoline.

The CNEX forum, which is sponsored by the Presidential Communications Operations Office and the PIA, was aired over PTV4 and Radyo ng Bayan nationwide. -PIA — ARA