CAUAYAN CITY, Isabela – During the launching of the charger station of electric tricycles dubbed as CharM or Charging in Minutes, Engr. Sancho A. Mabborang, Regional Director of DOST region 02, urged everybody to use e-vehicles, “E-vehicles do not consume any fossil fuel as a source of power. Therefore, there are no emission of carbon monoxide…The use of E-trikes can be one of the cleaner energy solutions to address the harmful effect of climate change in the country.”

The Charging in Minutes or CharM Project was launched in Isabela State University (ISU), Cauayan City, Isabela on May 22, 2017 as part of the commitment of Department of Science and Technology Regional Office No. 02 (DOST R02) to impart useful innovations to both public and private sectors.

The project is a collaborative effort of DOST R02, DOST Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD), ISU Cauayan Campus headed by Dr. Precila C. Delima, University of the Philippines-Diliman Electronic Industries Association of the Philippines, Inc. (EIAPI) and the Local Government of Cauayan City led by Mayor Bernard Faustino M. Dy.

CharM is a charging station for lithium-ion powered electric-tricycles or E-Trikes and the first of its kind in the region. The charging unit addresses the slow and relatively more expensive charging of E-Trikes when directly connected to an electric outlet. The station then encourages consumers to use E-trikes instead of gasoline-fed tricycles because of this convenience being offered to the public. Strategically located in-front of ISU Cauayan City campus, CharM station is eyed to be primarily used by tricycle drivers whose frequent passengers are budget conscious college students.

Recently, the Local Government of Cauayan City, in its support to the CharM and E-Trike Project and in its pursuit to make possible its dream to become a “Smarter City”, already approved 30 franchises of E-Trike in the city.

Various E-trike manufacturers, such as Ropali Group and BMAK thru Providers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, also participated in the launching.