Shipbuilding Firm Unveils Hybrid Electric Vehicles

Tsuneishi C Values Philippines (TCVPh) has unveiled its two hybrid electric vehicle (e-vehicles) prototypes for public testing in Balamban town in Cebu’s western seaboard.

TCVPh, the economic and environmentally smart automotive service business company under the Tsuneishi Group, is gathering public suggestions for these newly invented e-vehicles developed by the company in their laboratory in China.

The company is testing these environment friendly vehicles in the country, specifically in Balamaban, following the company’s successful public demonstration of its own electronic tricycles (e-trikes) in Balamban a year ago.

“There is a need for this current generation to hand over a healthy environment for the next generations to enjoy,” said TCVPh president Eisaku Ohira.

He said introducing rechargeable e-vehicles is part of the company’s mission to help reduce climate-changing carbon dioxide emissions, especially to a country like the Philippines, which has seen an increasing demand for car ownership.

“It is now high time for the Philippines to adopt e-vehicles. This trend is now gaining momentum due to heightened environmental awareness,” said the TCVPh chief.

Tsuneishi brought to Balamban a hybrid sedan with a top speed of 70 kilometers per hour (km/h) and top range of 80 kilometers, and a hybrid pickup with a top speed of 55 km/h and range of 75 km/h. Charging time for these plug-in hybrid e-vehicles is from six to eight hours.

According to Ohiro, it took Tsuneishi a year to build the e-vehicle prototypes. After its public demonstration in Balamban, the company will bring these samples to Paraguay for another public testing.

“We are currently studying the market’s feedback for our e-vehicles from the physical look to comfortability and functionality. We are also surveying how much they are willing to pay to own e-vehicles,” said Ohira. He added that if they see a huge demand, there is possibility they will mass produce these units. There is also a high possibility of setting up a manufacturing plant for e-vehicles.

“But as to which place, I don’t know yet. We will conduct market studies,” he noted.

Balamban Mayor Alex Binghay welcomed Tsuneishi’s new invention and thanked the company for picking Balamban as their testing site.

“We are happy that Tsuneishi, known for shipbuilding, is now getting into e-vehicle production, because this is a big help with the current condition of our environment,” said Binghay. He noted that one of the many human activities that is killing the environment is the heavy use of cars that emit greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide.

“E-vehicles is a big help that would help address our problem on carbon emissions to ensure that future generations will still be able to enjoy the kind of environment we are currently enjoying. We need to do something now,” said Binghay.

Binghay said he aspires to become the the first local government unit in the country to have e-vehicles running.

He suggested to Tsuneishi officials to make e-vehicles more affordable. (PNA) LAP/EB/EDS