Motoring Today Column

May 12, 2021

Vehicles motivated by electric motors powered by batteries have been with us for many years now. But these are mostly vehicles used to ferry guests at sprawling resorts or players at golf courses.

There was a surge in the number of battery powered three-wheelers making a nuisance of themselves on national roads even before the pandemic hit. Also E-scooter users also made their unsafe presence on streets.

Before the pandemic there were also many projects and programs at the local government level to convince transport operators to try using electric vehicles- both three-wheelers and four-wheelers. The programs weren't as successful as hoped for.

Lately a number of importers began to bring in small exotic-looking four-wheeled electric vehicles, mostly two-seaters.

Still it can't be said that electric vehicles are coming of age in the country. Far from it. But it's getting closer. Especially with Nissan, an established auto company in the country, making the LEAF available locally.

The LEAF, one of the first production electric vehicles that achieved global success and acceptance, is now available in the country. Initially only at three Nissan dealerships at a hefty P2.78 million.

But that's not best news for those dreaming of going electric. Nissan is complementing the local LEAF launch with plans to establish charging stations at seven of its dealerships nationwide.

Proponents believe readily available charging stations will lead to greater acceptance for electrified vehicles.

However, the LEAF by itself can make ownership of an electric vehicle viable in the country. It's all-electric powertrain generates a maximum output of 110kW or 150ps of power and 320 Newton-meters of instant torque.

Nissan claims it can go from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in 7.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 140 kph.

It's 40-kWh lithium-ion battery has a range of up to 311 kilometers on a full charge. The LEAF can be charged at home through a dedicated wall outlet with a universal charging cable. However, it needs 15 to 18 hours for a full charge.

Charging is faster, from 40 to 60 minutes, at charging stations to be set up at Nissan dealerships.

The LEAF is a five-seater vehicle with much of the amenities, conveniences, and connectivity expected in today's automobiles.

EV proponents should be happy to hear what Atsushi Najima, president and managing director of Nissan Philippines , says about why the LEAF is now available locally: "Finally bringing the Nissan LEAF to the Philippines is a high point in our efforts throughout the years to inform and educate the Filipino public on the benefits of EV adoption. The Nissan LEAF is key to realizing our vision of enriching Filipino lives towards a more connected, sustainable, and resilient society."

And apparently it will be a sustained effort. Says Isao Sekiguchi, Nissan ASEAN regional vice president: "The Nissan LEAF's launch in the Philippines is the latest chapter in our electrification strategy in ASEAN. This is part of Nissan's DNA of daring to do what others don't as we make electrified mobility more accessible to the people in the region."

N.B. Customers can avail of the Nissan LEAF from three dealerships: Nissan Mantrade Makati, Nissan Otis, and Nissan Cebu South - V. Rama , each equipped with EV charging systems for the exclusive use of Nissan LEAF owners. Four more dealerships will offer the much awaited EV within this year, all similarly equipped with charging facilities.

Okavango Drive

Auto companies are going all out to even just get people to test drive their vehicles.

Sojitz G. Auto Philippines is giving those who come and test drive the Okavango the opportunity to win an Apple Watch, a CTEX MXS 5.0 bundle, and P5,000 worth of Shell fuel card.

The Go BIG with Your Test Drive Promo is being held until the end of June. Prizes await at 80 persons who book and test drive the seven-seater Okavango at Geely dealerships nationwide.

If you're wondering what BIG means, it's how Geely describes the Okavango-Big, Ingenious, and Gorgeous.

Participation is easy. Go to www.geelyph.com and choose book a test drive to fill out a form and choose preferred dealer to take the test drive. Then complete the test drive by visiting the preferred dealership to test drive the Geely Okavango.

Cashless at Honda

Going cashless is now in. A consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic.

And Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) has gone in with the trend.

Buyers can now avail themselves of cashless payment options at Honda dealerships and authorized service centers.

HCPI and its dealership network are partnering with GCash and Paymaya to allow cashless transactions.

Honda says this is help ensure a safer and more convenient way of transacting at Honda dealerships.

Tugade In Cebu

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade is following through with his promise to take the Free Ride Service Program for Health Workers, expanded to include essential workers identified asAuthorized Persons Outside their Residences (APORs), to Cebu.

During a two-day roadshow in Cebu, Tugade also conducted an inspection of Metro Cebu bike lanes, also following through with the DOTr initiative to promote safer cycling to major urban areas.

Secretary Tugade led the launch of the free ride for health workers and APORs under the Service Contracting Program of the DOTr and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

The free ride program was initially rolled out in Metro Manila and has since been nationwide to help essential workers with their commuting needs and ease financial burdens amid the pandemic.

Before the launch, Tugade and officials of the DOTr and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) inspected the SRP section of the Metro Cebu bike network being established as a joint project of the DOTr and the DPWH.

The DOTr said the SRP section is a Class I bike lane that is five meters wide and spans around 2.3 kilometers.

It comes with a 3-kilometer pedestrian sidewalk separated from the bike lane, a shed for bike racks and benches, and solar studs that light up at night to guide bikers.

The SRP section of the bike lane will also feature planters for trees and other greenery.

The Metro Cebu bike lane network project is 63.96 complete covering 88.84 kilometers of the planned 138.90-kilometer bike lane traversing the cities of Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Cebu, and Talisay.

Happy Motoring!!!

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