The Philippine Jeep is one of the things that we Filipinos can be identified with. It has been our countries prolific mode for mass transport for almost fifty years. It is a groundbreaking achievement of Philippine Automotive although it is only a modification (innovation) of the World War II army jeep. Through the years the jeep has taken a lot of shapes, colors, designs and last thing I’ve checked even air conditioning. The only downside with the jeep is that most of them are powered with old diesel engines that are known for emitting most of the carbon that is giving us a major headache right now. Carbon emissions from these engines are now a thing of the past thanks to the passage and enactment of the Bio-fuels Law that mandates oils firms to add one percent of coco methyl ester to diesel and five percent ethanol to gasoline (Miguel Zubiri, take a bow, you have every right to be a senator of this country). But that’s another story.
This year, the jeep would take on its next generation platform, the “e-jeep.” The e-jeep boasts the promise to be the first electric powered vehicle for mass transport on four wheels, which is a first in the Philippines, and maybe even the whole world. But sad to say, no Filipino will be credited to this endeavor since it’s made in China. Right now, Bacolod and Makati City are testing out its viability. Should it be fully adapted, this would greatly reduce carbon emissions hence contribute in solving the worst crisis of all time, “climate change.”
I have mixed reactions when I first read about it through the newspapers. I’d say it’s a bold move that can only be successful with the backing of the government since the initial cost is not that cheap compared to the conventional one. It might bring the price of fossil fuels down should we no longer be dependent on it. It would make commuting in the city convenient and cheaper (we wont have to cover our nose when we commute or maybe we’d still do due to dust). The e-jeep is dependent on electricity and so where would it get it? The plan is that there’d generators using organic waste as fuel. Organic waste is abundant but will it suffice should this idea blows out of proportion? Maybe yes, maybe no. Probably it would still rely on major electric companies for its juice and that’s our dilemma. We are a country that has so much potential for other means of energy but preferred those that are considered environment un-friendly. The e-jeep would have been more environment-friendly and efficient if only it made use of solar panels on its roof that is not that difficult to do but would make the cost of an e-jeep a little higher.
Climate change is a global crisis, what we do now as a country is a big thing but what other countries would and would not do is crucial. Will the e-jeep live up to its promise? Again, maybe no… maybe yes.
This year, the jeep would take on its next generation platform, the “e-jeep.” The e-jeep boasts the promise to be the first electric powered vehicle for mass transport on four wheels, which is a first in the Philippines, and maybe even the whole world. But sad to say, no Filipino will be credited to this endeavor since it’s made in China. Right now, Bacolod and Makati City are testing out its viability. Should it be fully adapted, this would greatly reduce carbon emissions hence contribute in solving the worst crisis of all time, “climate change.”
I have mixed reactions when I first read about it through the newspapers. I’d say it’s a bold move that can only be successful with the backing of the government since the initial cost is not that cheap compared to the conventional one. It might bring the price of fossil fuels down should we no longer be dependent on it. It would make commuting in the city convenient and cheaper (we wont have to cover our nose when we commute or maybe we’d still do due to dust). The e-jeep is dependent on electricity and so where would it get it? The plan is that there’d generators using organic waste as fuel. Organic waste is abundant but will it suffice should this idea blows out of proportion? Maybe yes, maybe no. Probably it would still rely on major electric companies for its juice and that’s our dilemma. We are a country that has so much potential for other means of energy but preferred those that are considered environment un-friendly. The e-jeep would have been more environment-friendly and efficient if only it made use of solar panels on its roof that is not that difficult to do but would make the cost of an e-jeep a little higher.
Climate change is a global crisis, what we do now as a country is a big thing but what other countries would and would not do is crucial. Will the e-jeep live up to its promise? Again, maybe no… maybe yes.
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