More than 3,000 e-trikes to roll out by 2015

MANILA -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB), in partnership with the Department of Energy, is eyeing to release between 3,000 to 5,000 units of the e-trikes by 2015. In an interview on ANC's "Future Perfect," Energy Undersecretary Loreta Ayson and ADB energy specialist Sohail Hasnie were optimistic that although they are still in the process of bidding out the production of the e-trikes, the vehicles should start servicing the public next year. The ADB-DOE e-trikes, which can seat five to six people, will charge the same fare as regular tricycles. Promote "clean energy, clean fuel" by using lithium ion batteries instead of gasoline, the project has been on a test run with 20 units plying the streets of Mandaluyong the past year. According to Hasnie, other Southeast Asian countries have expressed interest in the vehicle. "We are getting interests from other countries like Thailand, Indonesia, [and] Vietnam...[It can] potentially be sold in other countries," Hasnie said.