The Philippine-based Sarao Motors Inc. is on track to release its fully electric jeepneys by the third or fourth quarter of this year, according to company officials.
The company's operations supervisor, Leonard John C. Sarao, said that the modernization program, which started in 2016, led to a significant decline in the sales of traditional jeepneys, as they could no longer be registered for public transport.
As a result, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) asked Sarao Motors to develop a modern jeepney, which led to the creation of the first prototype, a fully electric vehicle that was showcased in a transport event.
However, the initial prototype did not take off well, as it did not meet the guidelines set by the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), which mandated a modern-looking design for the new jeepneys.
In response, Sarao Motors rehashed their prototype to integrate design cues of the traditional jeepney, while still complying with the Philippine New Standard (PNS) and incorporating modern features such as air conditioning, Wi-Fi, CCTV, and PWD access.
The new fully electric modern jeepney is a collaborative effort with Tembo, an Australian company, which provided the powertrains for the electric jeepneys, as Sarao Motors did not have the resources to manufacture their own powertrains locally.
The company's sales have shifted from public transport to private individuals and businesses, as the traditional jeepneys can no longer be given a franchise by the DoTr.
Despite the challenges, Sarao Motors is committed to giving consumers a choice and is open to improving or retrofitting the old vehicles to make them roadworthy, should the modernization program be implemented.
The company aims to retain the essence of the traditional jeepney in its modern design, incorporating the vibrancy and artwork that are characteristic of the iconic Filipino vehicle.
Sarao Motors is still finishing the prototype, which lacks air conditioning systems, but hopes to release the fully electric jeepney by the third or fourth quarter of this year.
