The use of electric buses aims to reduce fuel costs and carbon emissions.
How do you make Cebu buses more eco-friendly?
Acting Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia announced that the city government will be buying electric buses to replace their old tourist vehicles. He said that these are advantageous to the environment, as they can reduce the city’s carbon footprint.
This is especially important as eco-tourism becomes one of the fastest growing travel trends around the world. An Allied Market Research study valued global sustainable tourism at $3.3 trillion in 2022, and is projected to reach $11.4 trillion by 2032. (2023)
Sustainable travel aims to conserve the environment by lessening the damaging effects of tourism on the planet through policies and regulations promoting sustainability in the tourism sector.
The advantages of electric vehicles in their costs and environmental impact can help the Cebu City government preserve the city’s natural wonders and improve its economy for a better way-of-life for tourists and locals alike.
The initiative is in line with the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act, which mandates that at least ten percent of government-owned vehicles should run on electricity.
Aside from compliance, Mayor Garcia also mentioned that this can help the city government save money, as they already spend over Php 10 million a month on fuel for their city-owned buses.
The government is planning on phasing out 15 to 20 units of its green tourist buses and replacing them with new electric vehicles. The old units will be kept as backup vehicles or will be sold.
Green tourist buses were previously used for Cebu City residents going to burials, weddings, and seminars, but were also occasionally used for tours and as free transport options during the COVID-19 pandemic.
ARE ELECTRIC BUSES THE FUTURE?
Garcia introduced the first government-funded electric bus from Arrow Bus Management Transport, which will soon traverse areas of Mandaue City and Cebu City.
It will require a reloadable card to pay for the fare, similar to the MyBus. It can carry around 20 passengers, has air-conditioning, and most importantly, is purely electric.
However, this is not the first electric vehicle to be used as public transport in Cebu, as Community Optimized Managed Electric Transport (COMET) buses from Global Electric Transport (GET) have already traversed different areas of the island since 2022.
They have a 30-person capacity, requiring GETPASS for tracking and payment. However, there are only a few units plying the streets as they are usually purchased as shuttle services for private companies and universities.
Interestingly, Mandaue has already bought several units of electric buses, providing areas to charge the vehicles and bus stops to pick up passengers. Stay tuned as we may see more of them in the future.
WHY GO ELECTRIC
- Better quality of living
How do electric buses work? Basically they use electricity over gasoline. Diesel engines use fuel that emit greenhouse gasses that can leave detrimental damage to the environment. Electricity, on the other hand, does not.
Electric buses run on a rechargeable battery. Although they may require a larger use of electricity, it improves air quality, especially in cities where vehicles are running 24/7.
An article in Anthropocene Magazine (2019) states that the growing use of electric vehicles can save thousands of lives since they help combat air pollution. If over a quarter of cars are electric, it can help prevent around 17,500 deaths.
- A more modern look
Like it or not, modernized vehicles have taken over the streets of Cebu. We are already seeing a plethora of e-jeepneys traversing the roads and highways, providing commuters a more convenient, albeit slightly more expensive service.
Mayor Garcia said in a Facebook post that electric vehicles can offer commuters a transportation option with a sense of “modernity, sustainability and style.”
With fewer moving parts, it makes the vehicle less noisy, and its low center of gravity makes it safer because of its low chance of tipping over.
- Cost-efficiency and maintenance
Electric buses are cheaper since electricity is far more affordable than fossil fuels. Using these vehicles can help the government save thousands of pesos on maintenance and fuel expenses.
If used and charged properly, the batteries can last for a really long time and require less repairs.
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The implementation of electric buses can help promote a cleaner environment, and as a result help preserve many of Cebu’s natural wonders.
This also makes commuting more convenient thanks to the modern amenities. Everyone would love to have a good public transport experience when visiting a foreign country, so this is definitely something to look forward to.
REFERENCES:
Travel & Luxury Travel. 2023. “Sustainable Tourism Market Research, 2032.” Allied Market Research.
https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/sustainable-tourism-market-A06549.
Patel, Prachi. 2019. “Electric vehicles could benefit health more than climate.” Anthropocene Magazine.
https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2019/10/evs-could-save-thousands-of-lives-in-china/.
