TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) — The Cagayan State University (CSU), in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), is promoting electric tricycle (e-trike) technology across the Philippines in support of the government’s climate change mitigation efforts and environmental sustainability goals.
Exhibits showcasing e-trikes have already been held in Batanes, Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela, Apayao, Quirino, Kalinga, and Iloilo, with plans to extend the project to Mindanao this year, including General Santos City, Bukidnon, Zamboanga, and Basilan.
In Region 2, CSU has established the country’s first DOST-funded Electromobility Research and Development (R&D) Center for e-trike technology. This initiative includes the development of the 6+1 passenger e-trike, advanced electronics in collaboration with the University of the Philippines Diliman, and the converted electric tricycle (c-trike).
According to Michael Orpilla, CSU’s research coordinator, the project aligns with the government’s goal of reducing carbon emissions by at least 75 percent by 2030.
He emphasized the need for the transportation sector to shift towards sustainable alternatives, promoting environmental sustainability, energy security, and cost efficiency for drivers.
“We need to transition to sustainable solutions to mitigate climate change. The cost of adapting to climate change will eventually become too high, which is why we must act now to reduce its impact,” Orpilla said.
In addition to the well-known 6+1 passenger e-trike, CSU is also promoting the c-trike, which offers significant economic benefits to tricycle drivers due to its lower operating costs.
He said research shows that the c-trike costs only P0.88 per kilometer to operate, compared to P3.20 for 2-stroke and P2.30 for 4-stroke tricycles. The conversion process replaces the engine with an electric kit, reducing both emissions and operational costs.
Arnold Kein T. Tolbe of CSU’s Electromobility R&D Center shared that the public reception of the e-trikes has been overwhelmingly positive, particularly in areas where the technology has been showcased.
He said CSU has already secured four technology adopters—two from Isabela, one from Cebu, and one from Pasay City.
Currently, e-trikes use large batteries that allow them to travel up to 100 kilometers per day. However, CSU is focusing on improving charging efficiency through ongoing research into battery swapping.
By establishing charging and battery-swapping stations, CSU aims to reduce battery size and lower the overall cost of e-trikes, as batteries currently account for 40-60 percent of the total unit price.
“We have developed a fast-charging battery in collaboration with UP Diliman that can fully charge an e-trike in just 35 minutes. However, our team is also working on a battery-swapping system that would allow drivers to replace batteries as quickly as refueling a gasoline-powered vehicle,” Orpilla added. (OTB/MJFJ/PIA Region 2)
