"e-Jeepney" - The electric powered jeepney

**uls** · January 11th, 2010 10:41 AM

this isnt about attitude

this is about looking at the big picture

just coz a few lead-acid-battery-powered vehicles are running short routes in some areas of the metropolis, all of a sudden, we are king of the world

it's like a bunch of guys in a small village who built a 3-storey building and proclaiming it the tallest building in the world

the guy who wrote the RP-hub-of-Asia article clearly didnt look at the progress of other Asian countries' development of e-vehicles

everybody else is building modern-shaped e-vehicles powered by lithium batteries

while our e-vehicles are basically stretched golf carts powered by lead acid batteries

and we are king of the world

amazing

**roberto_minosa** · January 11th, 2010 10:46 AM

Yeah, but what about trying to think about replacing the batteries? I wouldn't mind if the parts came from China.

**uls** · January 11th, 2010 11:55 AM

it's not just a battery issue

it's a cost issue

if the e-jeepneys will be powered by lithium batteries, the e-jeepneys will become more expensive, which will discourage buyers

MVPMAP has to keep the cost of the e-jeepney down to encourage buyers (like jeepney operators)

MVPMAP is focused on e-jeepneys coz that's the only EV that's sellable here

i mean the local private vehicle market isnt gonna absorb private e-cars yet

right now, they can sell e-jeepneys to local governments (like Makati) and corporations (like Araneta Center)

they are pushing e-jeepneys to jeepney operators (don't know how that will turn out)

GH's point is that the guys who bought the e-jeepneys will eventually be hit with a huge expense once the batteries need replacing

yung tinipid mo sa diesel, mapupunta sa gastos sa pagbili ng new batteries (which cost around P6,500 each X 12)

every 1 or 2 years, magpapalit ka ng batteries

local governments and corporations have the financial capacity to absorb the cost

how about jeepney operators?

if you're a jeepney operator who bought an e-jeepney, your e-jeepney better make enough money to cover the cost of replacing batteries + some profit to make your investment worthwhile

**ghosthunter** · January 11th, 2010 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by uls

yung tinipid mo sa diesel, mapupunta sa gastos sa pagbili ng new batteries (which cost around P6,500 each X 12)

Honestly, I doubt if they can purchase replacement batteries at P6,500/each unless there is some sort of government subsidy going on (more of our taxes going to waste supporting non-self sustaining projects).

Deep cycle batteries (designed for golf carts) costs P10,000 to P16,000 each depending on capacity when I checked last year.

**uls** · January 11th, 2010 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by ghosthunter

Honestly, I doubt if they can purchase replacement batteries at P6,500/each unless there is some sort of government subsidy going on (more of our taxes going to waste supporting non-self sustaining projects).

Deep cycle batteries (designed for golf carts) costs P10,000 to P16,000 each depending on capacity when I checked last year.

wow

that makes ROI even more difficult for jeepney operators who will invest in e-jeepneys

**ghosthunter** · January 11th, 2010 02:23 PM

Originally Posted by uls

wow

that makes ROI even more difficult for jeepney operators who will invest in e-jeepneys

This is why I used P120,000 to P150,000 as a cost estimate for the replacement battery pack for the ejeepney.

This is why I am challenging the people who are so gung-ho about the e-jeepney to answer how can an e-jeepney can be more profitable than a typical jeepney when the annual operating cost is about the same.

**uls** · January 11th, 2010 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by ghosthunter

This is why I used P120,000 to P150,000 as a cost estimate for the replacement battery pack for the ejeepney.

This is why I am challenging the people who are so gung-ho about the e-jeepney to answer how can an e-jeepney can be more profitable than a typical jeepney when the annual operating cost is about the same.

at P120T to P150T every 1 or 2 years...

parang nagpalit ka ng engine and transmission sa isang PUJ every 1 or 2 years

(check the prices of surplus Isuzu 4BE1 or Mitsu 4D32 diesel engines with tranny)

i read the e-jeepney sales pitches

they only talk about the big fuel savings

they dont mention anything about the cost of replacing batteries

**ghosthunter** · January 11th, 2010 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by roberto_minosa

Yeah, but what about trying to think about replacing the batteries? I wouldn't mind if the parts came from China.

If it was just that "simple" so why haven't the e-jeepney started with lithium batteries?

It is because lithium batteries are costly. Even if they are sourced from china, lithium batteries that are compatible for high discharge use (different from the ones found in cellphones and laptops) cost much more than the lead acid batteries that are currently powering the e-jeeps.

That in perspective, we are 10 to 15 years behind the rest of the world in electric car technology. More if you include the capacity to manufacture a whole modern car as well.