The first electric ferry in the Philippines glides through Manila's Pasig River, carrying passengers past the same waterways where debris and water hyacinth once choked diesel-powered boats. The vessel, called the M/B Dalaray, was built entirely in the Philippines — a milestone for a country that imports most of its fuel and has long struggled with some of the world's worst traffic and air pollution.
Now, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), led by Secretary Renato Solidum Jr., is scaling up homegrown electric vehicle technology. The push comes as global fuel prices remain unpredictable, squeezing drivers and commuters alike. The goal is simple: cut costs for Filipino families while reducing emissions in crowded cities.
The M/B Dalaray is the centerpiece. Designed with the University of the Philippines Diliman, this aluminum catamaran handles the Pasig River's tricky conditions — debris, salty water, and seasonal plant blooms. It runs on a 160-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery with dual 50-kilowatt electric motors, giving it a range of 45 kilometers on a single charge and enough power for two to three hours of continuous service. Solar panels on the roof run secondary systems. The ferry currently shuttles passengers between Guadalupe and Escolta stations, with fast-charging stations built right into the river terminals.
On land, the focus is on tricycles — the ubiquitous three-wheeled vehicles that fill Philippine roads. Two models are in development. The standard E-Trike has already completed pilot programs in regional cities like Cauayan, Tuguegarao, Batanes, and Iloilo, proving that local electric fleets can work. Meanwhile, the C-Trike, or Converted Electric Tricycle, is moving toward mass production at Cagayan State University's ElectroMobility Research and Development Center. Backed by 79.4 million pesos in government funding, the C-Trike uses a modular kit to convert existing tricycles. Field tests show it costs just 0.88 pesos per kilometer to run — compared to 2.30 pesos per kilometer for a gasoline tricycle. That means tricycle drivers could cut their fuel spending by more than half. The university has already signed licensing deals with ACT Machineries and Metal Craft Corporation and Suki Trading Corporation to begin manufacturing the conversion drivetrains.
Larger vehicles are also going electric. The Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines is working with state researchers on a commercial 23-seater electric jeepney that meets modern safety standards. And on the rails, the Metals Industry Research and Development Center is testing a hybrid electric train with the Philippine National Railways — a 20-meter-per-coach system that captures energy from braking to recharge its battery bank.
Charging infrastructure, long a bottleneck for electric vehicle adoption, is getting a boost from the CharM system, short for "Charging in Minutes." Developed at the University of the Philippines Diliman and now commercialized through university spinoff CHRG Electric Vehicle Inc., CharM cuts charging time from six hours down to about 30 minutes. New solar-powered CharM stations are now expanding beyond Metro Manila to island provinces and remote municipalities like Romblon.
The Philippines is still early in its electric vehicle journey, but with homebuilt ferries, tricycles, and jeepneys — and fast chargers spreading to remote islands — the country is quietly building a model for how smaller nations can drive their own clean transportation future.