PHILIPPINE INVENTION: “​E-JEEP”

1.What is the Invention?

Electric jeepney or also known as ‘e-jeep’ is an innovative form of jeepney in the

Philippines and being the first of its kind in Southeast Asia. This invention were
developed by PhUV Inc. (Philippine Utility Vehicle Incorporated) and first launched in

Makati City on July 1, 2008. The e-jeep works by charging its rechargeable automotive

batteries in an outlet for full 8 hours just like charging a regular cellular phone, and it

could travel for about 65 km at a maximum speed of 35 to 40 kph. It is designed to

become eco-friendly and solution to the pollution in the Philippines, since it doesn’t

require gasoline to function this will lessen the smoke produced every day.

2.What came before your chosen inventions? What tool existed prior it or how was the

activity carried out before its invention? Transportation has evolved in great lengths

throughout the years. Before, our jeepneys are small and very harmful for the

environment and to the health of the passengers because it emits dark smoke from

burning fossil fuels for it to work. Then came those larger jeepneys with air conditioning.

However, it still used gas for it to work. How the activity is carried out is still the same

like from the petroleum powered jeepneys, the impact of it to science and technology

and economic implications are vast. Because we did not think much of how the

environment is going to be affected or may I say, suffer from our use and misuse of her

limited resources that we are now experiencing the consequences.

3.What was the social,political,cultural, or economic context within which the invention

was made?

The traditional Jeepneys are usually the flamboyant vehicles we usually see in

traffic. We got so used to the colorful jeepneys or even the jeepneys that are heavily
coated in glaring metal which of course annoys the common commuter and the driver

also stuck in traffic. The Philippines is heavily congested with a number of public

transportation vehicles and jeepneys are a lot like a 54-seat bus only that its compact

and obviously noisy. Being tagged “hari ng kalsada” it was time to cut the smoke

belching and the air pollution that comes along with it. The rising prices of gas has also

led to this development, Thus having an innovation that would counter the smog emitted

by these Jeepneys and allowing transportation that wouldn’t harm the environment as

much as a normal Jeepney does.

4. What had been the social, political, cultural, or economic impacts of the chosen

invention?

In all aspects aside from economically expensive, e-jeepneys are considered as

a much superior form of transportation in contrast to the obsolete gas-fueled jeepneys.

Since the philippine’s social class is divided, the social impacts of this invention differs

with each class. The upper and middle class see it as an opportunity to convert

jeepneys into a more eco-friendly transportation. In the working class or the lower class,

they deem it as unnecessary. Believe it or not, the classic flamboyant jeepneys are

actually embedded in our culture. By converting it into e-jeepneys, we can preserve its

viability. I assume that 10 or 20 years from now, the primary concern of the entire world

is the preservation of the environment; with this, e-jeepneys will fit right in. In the past,

the government does not delve into its viability yet since converting classic jeepneys

into e-jeepneys will cost a lot and will require the government to provide subsidy to the
jeepney drivers to allow them to cope with the change. However, today, ​The

government aims to have 69,145 e-jeeps by 2017.​ In terms of efficiency, E-jeepneys are

superior; However in terms of economy, the parts in making it are much more expensive

thus making it hard to mass produce.