The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) rolls out its Hybrid Electric Road Train at the Clark Freeport Parade Ground in Pampanga this Thursday, June 25, 2015.

Designed and fabricated by Filipino engineers from the DOST’s Metals Institute Research and Development Center under its Makibayan or Makina at Teknolohiya Para sa Bayan Program, the 40-meter-long road transport is developed to help address the worsening mass transportation problem in Metro Manila and in other urban areas throughout the Philippines.

The road train is a series of five airconditioned interlinked coaches, four of which can accommodate a total of 60 passengers each, for a maximum of 240 passengers per trip.

DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo hopes that with the larger passenger capacity of the hybrid road train, it will be able to absorb more commuters especially at rush time.

It has a maximum speed of 50kph and is powered by a hybrid engine that runs on either diesel fuel or electric batteries. The front coach generates the power for the entire transport.

“We hope to see them in our streets the moment they are fully commercialized,” Montejo added.

Moreover, the road train is among those picked by experts to be at the forefront of mass transport in the coming years. Unlike conventional railway systems, the hybrid road train is more energy-efficient since there is no need for alternating current running through suspended cables.

It also produces less smoke emissions compared with cars, trucks, or buses, thus creating a smaller carbon footprint and contributing to a cleaner environment.

This road transport was launched as part of the preparations for DOST’s upcoming 2015 National Science and Technology Week which shall be held from July 24-28, 2015 at the SMX Convention Center, MOA Complex, Pasay City. Admission is free. (S&T Media Service)

The DOST Hybrid Electric Road Train