The University of the Cordilleras successfully converted a manual bicycle into an electronic bicycle using equipment donated by the United Nations Development Programme-Low Carbon Transport (UNDP-LCT) Project in the Philippines.
The bike was modified by Engr. Michael James Deus, chair of the Electronic and Communications Engineering of UC as part of the Dalan ni Taltallak consortium – a partnership between the city government and the Department of Transportation with the academe composed of UC, Saint Louis University and University of Baguio to facilitate the conduct of research and innovations towards the development and implementation of low-carbon and alternative transportation networks in support of resilient and sustainable communities.
Engr. Thea Camiring of the City Engineering Office said the UNDP provided four bike conversion kits to the UC team that was used to convert a manually pedaled bicycle into electrically powered bicycles.
Camiring said the converted e-bike cost approximately P85,000 plus the P15,000 cost of the bicycle compared to around P125,000 1kw electric powered bicycle or about 30 percent lower in price difference.
The converted e-bike can run up to 60 kms before charging.
“Ideally, charging should be done when the battery reaches 20 percent. It takes four hours to fully charge the battery,” Camiring said.
The unit has already run 605 kms since Dec. 5 covering the route Pinesville Subdivision – Kias to UC and vice-versa, and the battery reading is at 52 percent.
Test run and data collected from the converted electric bicycle will be used to provide relevant research-based guidance for the development of local policies and guidelines on low-carbon and alternative transportation networks and related concerns on climate change.
The UNDP-LCT Project was launched in 2017 to create an enabling environment for the commercialization of low carbon urban transport systems, for example, electric and hybrid vehicles, in the country. – Jessa Mardy P. Samidan
