Hybrid electric road train to be road-tested this month

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) yesterday announced that its Hybrid Electric Road Train will hit the road at the Clark Airbase in Angeles City, Pampanga this September for road worthiness tests before rolling out in Metro Manila’s major highways.

Designed by Filipino engineers and made with locally available parts, the 40-meter long train-like bus is an alternative means of transportation and one of DOST’s answers to the mass transportation dilemma in metro roads.

The road train is composed of five interconnected fully air-conditioned coaches, four of which can accommodate 60 passengers each for a total of 240 commuters per ride.  The last one is the power coach.

DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo estimates that the road train can serve 650,000 commuters when fully implemented.

“This will happen after its testing phase which will take two to three years,” he said.

Launched last August 22, 2014, the road train can run with a maximum speed of 50kph. It is mainly powered by hybrid diesel fuel and electric-powered battery.

Moreover, the train is designed to be energy-efficient, which means it does not need electricity and suspended cables to operate.

This newest Filipino innovation also produces less smoke emission compared with existing mass transport vehicles, making it an eco-friendly mode of transport.