E-Trike design contest launched in Tacloban City

TACLOBAN CITY – A national E-Trike design contest was set by the Department of Energy, aiming to reduce the country’s dependence on fuel and to showcase modern tricycle innovation that can be adopted in the implementation of the E-Trike Project of the government.

The contest is open to trike designers, manufacturers and even operators, said Chrisostomo Laplap of the Department of Energy Visayas Field Office.

Currently, there are four areas in the country where E-Trike are operational: the cities of Mandaluyung, Taguig, Puerto Princesa and in the province of Surigao.

“Aside from reducing dependency on fuel, other benefit is it is less noise and pollution that can contribute in fighting Climate Change,” Laplap, speaking during the Harampang ha PIA” media forum, said.

Laplap also noted that based in their study, the result said that electric trike consumes P50 a day per charging as compared to tricycle using fuel that will spend around P250 a day.

“This gives a bigger take home income for driver and bigger savings on fuel cost,” Laplap added.

As for it effect on decreasing fare on tricycle, the DOE official said that the only guarantee that they can give is to lessen fuel consumption and increase income of drivers.

“As far as fare rate is concern it should be address be the local government unit,” he stressed.

E-Trike design must be original, new and have not been used for commercial and demonstration purposes and can accommodate six passengers excluding the driver.

Individual or group can join the contest with form downloadable at the DOE website, www.doe.ov.ph or at www.pia.gov.ph.

Their design must be produce in 2D and 3D drawing using AutoCAD software with corresponding design description, and should be submitted before February 17, 2012.

The final judging will be on February 24, 2012 at the DOE-Manilawhere ten winners will be notified either through telephone, email or registered mail.

The top three winners will receive P200,000 each. The winning designs will automatically become an exclusive property of the DOE.