Hybrid electric road train to serve General Santos commuters

September 20, 2017

A 40-meter long hybrid electric road train developed by Filipino engineers from Department of Science and Technology Metals Industry Research and Development Center is expecting to hit the highways of General Santos City this October after its trial run in Cebu City last February.

The train consists of five interlinked air-conditioned coaches can hold up to 240 passengers per trip and is expected to provide technological solutions to urban transport concerns like traffic which General Santos City is currently facing.

It is mainly designed for roads and not for rails thus the hybrid electric road train only run a maximum speed of 50 kph.

The Department of Science Technology regional office, thru its regional director  Zenaida Hadji Raof Laidan, extends support and commitment in the implementation of the road project in the region.

Based on the initial route assessment survey, the train will initially start at Barangay Katangawan then it will pass through Lagao Public Market, national highway and city’s circumferential road going to Gensan Fish Port.

“Aside from serving mass number of daily commuters around the city, the hybrid electric road train  also advocates a greener-use of technology as it is powered by electric batteries instead of solely diesel fuel thus creating lesser carbon emission,” she added. DMS