THE sole manufacturer of electric jeepneys (e-jeep) in the Philippines sees a bright prospect in the local land-transportation sector as reflected by its aim of deploying 1,000 e-jeep units nationwide by year-end, its chief executive said.

Global Electric Transport Services Ltd. President Sigfrido Tiñga said his company is confident that jeepney operators will soon choose to shift to his firm’s environment-friendly units from diesel-powered vehicles.

“We hope to have 1,000 units on the road before year-end,” he said in an interview. “We expect that over time, we will not only deploy sample units, but operators will see the prospect of converting their units to e-jeeps.”

At present, transport group Pangkalahatang Sangguniang Metro Manila and Suburbs Association (Pasang Masda), whose application for franchise to operate 13 units of e-jeeps along SM North Edsa to Katipunan in Quezon City, expressed its optimism in the new technology.

Tiñga said his company is also negotiating with other operators to service routes involving major malls in the cities of Quezon, Makati and Pasay, such as Fisher Mall, Eastwood, Gateway, SM Makati, SM Mall of Asia, and SM Novaliches, among others.

The new transport mode, known as City Optimized Managed Electric Transport (Comet), will also be introduced in Cebu. “We’re not coming to replace the operators. We’re here to convert them to use e-jeeps. One Comet costs over a million pesos, but we have financing programs to help them fund the acquisition cost,” he said.

Fare rates of the e-jeeps will be based on jeepney rates; hence, a 4-kilometer ride on an e-jeep will also cost P7.50.

The  e-jeeps are equipped with modern features including cashless payment system using reloadable cards, fixed stops, Global Positioning System, provision of Internet connectivity, side entrance for easier boarding, and closed-circuit television cameras to enhance passenger safety, among others.