Rommel Juan, President of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines said that if more electric jeepneys are deployed for public transport use, the traffic situation might improve.

He cited as an example the largest fleet of EJeepneys now running as a public transport solution inside Filinvest City in Alabang dubbed as the 360 Eco Loop. “This is managed by a professional fleet management operator so that means that the drivers are not on their own and are not left to drive in an undisciplined and dangerous manner.”

Juan explains that fleet operators train their drivers to run their vehicles safely and in an orderly manner. “And since they are paid a fixed daily wage and enjoy employment benefits mandated by law, they are not under the old style ‘boundary system’ which leads them to drive fast and in a reckless and aggressive manner. They do not clog and obstruct street corners and are not always fighting and outmaneuvering each other for passengers”.

He cited studies that have identified driver discipline or the lack of it as a major cause of our traffic woes in the metropolis. “Since it was pioneered in Makati in 2008, the EJeepney has proven that fleet management works. And its management template actually shows that it is the best and most efficient way to manage EJeepney fleets”.

“If you look at how the 360 Eco Loop drivers drive, they are very orderly, calm and disciplined. They are all even sporting a nice and clean uniform. We wish all our public utility jeepney drivers can be like this”, Juan adds.

PhUV Inc., the pioneer EV manufacturer in the country is the supplier of the EJeepneys and has been at the forefront of pushing for EJeepney public transport systems.

“The EJeepney transport systems in Makati, Filinvest and even inside Ateneo in Katipunan prove that EJeepneys are better and cleaner alternatives to the dinosaur, polluting traditional diesel-fueled jeepneys. We hope that more areas, specially LGUs and jeepneys cooperatives,  will adopt the EJeepney transport system” says PhUV Sales Manager John Marasigan.