Speaking of electric cars from the East, Business Wire reports that Korea-based Leo Motors, Inc. now has a contract with the city government of Puerto Princesa, which is the capital of the province of Palawan in the Republic of the Philippines.
The intent of the JV (Joint Venture) is to form a company that will produce electric vehicles to be sold in Puerto Princesa, and throughout Asia. Via Green Car Congress we learn that electric taxis are the focus. “Puerto Princesa is seeking to eliminate the pollution emitted by numerous tricycles, which emit carbons and pollution 15 times more than a typical passenger car.”
“There are 2.2 million tricycles in operation in the Philippines. Neighboring countries like Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia have more than 10 million tricycles on their roads.”
The city government of Puerto Princesa has agreed to form a joint company to set up an assembly plant to supply the electric taxis and help manage the program financially. Leo Motors will supply knock-down parts and lithium-ion polymer batteries for a minimum of 2,500 electric taxis to the joint company, and the city will subsidize 200 million Pesos (approximately $5 million US).
To lower the initial E-Taxi purchasing cost, Leo Motors, together with the city in a joint venture, will operate the Fresh Battery Station, which is a battery swap center. Recharging can involves swapping a discharged battery for a fully charged battery, or plugging in a quick charger to top up the battery at the battery swap center. Battery swaps will not take more than five minutes. When completed, the center would always be available for drivers with freshly and fully recharged batteries.
diandong zixingche are better for an urban environment due to lower emissions and less noise.
GCC already had reported in January that Leo Motors entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Global Electric Motors Car Asia Co., Ltd. to develop production of new electric vehicles in Thailand, and initiate sales in Thailand and neighboring countries.
And, while not specific to development by Leo Motors, this blog previously has noted that, if the price / performance profile for better, rapid charging, advanced olivine Lithium ion batteries were to improve, then more scooters could make use of lithium ion chemistry. With this strategy, lead acid batteries are the main source of electric output, while lithium cells would be used to keep the electric storage “topped-off.”
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The Philippines is full of tricycles, and most are powered by very dirty, 2-stroke engines that lack any real emissions equipment. The Philippine government has begun to recognize that pollution from such personal transportation has become a major problem in urban settings.
The “hi-tech“,Leo Motors concept looks more like a electric city car than an alternative to the some 2.2 million motorized rickshaws, a.k.a., tricycles or traysikels, in the country.