With the rapid push for EVs, even public utility vehicles are being considered to be EVs as well. Francisco Motors, one of the oldest jeepney manufacturers in the Philippines, already had an idea in mind when they previewed their “Hari ng Kalsada” EV Jeep back in December.
While we had a deep dive on the “Hari ng Kalsada”, Francisco Motors surprised us when we spotted a different EV Jeep in BGC, which is called the “Pinoy Transporter” and is the model that is close to actual production.
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After the surprise encounter, owner Elmer Francisco invited us to take a closer look at the Pinoy Transporter, which allowed us to ask all the critical questions.
A little history first: the reason why it’s called the Pinoy Transporter was because it is based on the orange Jeeps that ply around the CCP Complex-Vito Cruz route back in the 70s. That being said, the Pinoy Transporter is a modern interpretation of that. Many have mixed opinions about its boxy design, but it is still part of the core design language of one of the older designs of Francisco Motors.
So how modern is the Pinoy Transporter? Taking a ride inside, it can comfortably seat 22 people in its current configuration. Francisco told us that there are options for a longer version, but their current working prototype is the most cost-efficient model. Aside from the seats, it can accommodate up to 8 passengers standing, provided that you’re not a 6-footer.
Of course, being a modern jeep also means that it is airconditioned. The one I’ve tried has a dual-aircon setup that’s adequately cold with the temps set at 18 degrees Celsius on a sunny afternoon in BGC. Fransicso told us that they are working on a version that can accommodate wheelchairs for PWDs, but that would translate to an additional cost of Php 300,000 to install an electronic lift–more on that later.
Moving to the dashboard, the Pinoy Transporter has two screens: one for monitoring the three CCTV cameras installed inside, and the other as an infotainment display.
The infotainment display has a modern interface that reminds us of those you’d find on BYD vehicles and comes with a SIM slot to give the Pinoy Transporter WiFi access to its passengers–another nice touch. Speaking of free WiFi, Francisco is in talks with PLDT to equip the Pinoy Transporter with Smart SIM cards.
The gauge cluster is still the analog variety, but Francisco said that they plan to update it to a full digital version in future iterations of the Pinoy Transporter. Being a modern vehicle, it uses a CVT transmission and comes with power steering–the latter being important to help maneuver the Pinoy Transporter in tight spots without the driver having sweaty hands.
The driver’s seat has a seatbelt, while the steering wheel does not have an airbag. We asked Francisco about this, and he told us that future production models will have a driver’s side airbag as standard. Other safety features that will be installed on future versions of the Pinoy Transporter include parking sensors, backup sensors, a wider camera system for full 540-degree coverage, and an emergency braking system, ensuring that this EV Jeep will be as safe as any modern vehicle.
While not installed as of writing this article, the Pinoy Transporter will support Beep cards as a mode of payment, which is a big plus considering our major modes of public transportation use them. As for the expected fares, Francisco told us that they will stick to the same Php 15 base fare for the first 4km and Php 2/km for succeeding kilometers.
Moving to the engine bay, there’s a large empty space since you only have the motor and necessary fluids, while the battery is mounted at the back. The space gives Francisco room to install a range extender, though they have yet to calculate the additional cost for it. As for the battery, the Pinoy Transporter has a mileage of 250km, which is 100km longer than their “Hari ng Kalsada”.
Charging the Pinoy Transporter is done via its CCS2 port, with a 30% to 90% charge achievable in 30 minutes using the appropriate charger. The battery underneath has an IP67 rating, so the Pinoy Transporter should not have any issues wading through floods. You also get modern LED headlights as well.
As for the overall build, the Pinoy Transporter is made from steel, and Francisco assured us that the fabrication and manufacturing they did for the chassis, body, and bumper is rigid enough to withstand strong collisions. Aside from that, the Pinoy Transporter has multiple bends on its side panels–which is a trademark design of Francisco Motors.
Now for the pricing: Francisco quotes that the Pinoy Transporter will cost at around Php 2.1 million, which is more than double of what they promised for the “Hari ng Kalsada” and does not include optional add-ons like a electronic lift for wheelchairs. Aside from the bigger battery, the Pinoy Transporter has more modern amenities to explain the higher asking price.
That may be a shock to some, but Francisco is working on a deal with the government, where the latter is set to commit 50% for the equipment needed for manufacturing the Pinoy Transporter, which could help lower the overall price to make it more accessible to everyone.
As to how the Pinoy Transporter will be distributed and sold nationwide, Francisco told us that they are in talks with two prominent dealers to handle aftersales servicing and act as dealers at the same time. For the warranty, they commit to 3 years for the vehicle and 5 years for the battery–with all warranty-related claims to be handled by Francisco Motors.
If you have doubts if Francisco Motors can produce multiple units, we were told that they have factories both in China and the Philippines (specifically in Camarines Norte), and they are already in talks with LGUs for the initial rollout of Pinoy Transporters for public use.
As of writing this article, Francisco Motors are finalizing important documents like a Certificate of Compliance (COC) to government agencies like the DoTR. Once they have complied with all the necessary paperwork (the conduction sticker is a good sign already), Francisco is looking at December 2024 for the initial batch of Pinoy Transporters to ply around our roads.
Our brief experience with the Pinoy Transporter made us look forward to what Francisco Motors has in store in modernizing the Jeepney while still keeping its iconic Filipino roots. Are you excited to ride the Pinoy Transporter once it is available for public use?
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