EMRDC AT CSU: POWERING SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY IN THE PHILIPPINES

The Electromobility Research and Development Center (EMRDC) is a program under the Department of Science and Technology through its NICHE Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER). More than just a technological hub, EMRDC is a symbol of the Philippines’ drive toward greener, smarter, and more inclusive transportation.

Established in 2021 at Cagayan State University – Carig Campus, the center was created to address climate change, congestion, and rising fuel costs. Aligned with Republic Act 11697 (Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act) and guided by the Comprehensive Roadmap for the Electric Vehicle Industry (CREVI), EMRDC sets out to redefine mobility in the archipelago.

From the beginning, EMRDC did not just envision electric vehicles; it built them. Early projects included electric tricycle (eTrike) components and conversion studies for traditional tricycles. These led to a growing range of technologies: C-Trike, eBuggy, eBike, eGolfCart, electric buses, 18-seater and 10-seater tranvias, battery-swapping technologies, and the 3+1 eTrike, designed for greater efficiency, affordability, and cleaner urban transit.

EMRDC's work has begun to ripple across the nation. Through partnerships with local government units (LGUs), provincial governments, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), state universities and colleges (SUCs), and organizations such as Tricycle Operators and Drivers Associations (TODAs), the center is turning prototypes into production models and research into real-world applications. Technology Licensing Agreements (TLAs) now enable local manufacturing of eTrikes and converted electric vehicles. This means that soon, streets in both urban and rural areas could be populated by homegrown electric vehicles, built by Filipinos, for Filipinos.

Yet, beyond policies and prototypes, the real heart of EMRDC lies in the communities it touches. Tricycle drivers who once struggled with the burden of fuel expenses now pilot eTrikes that cut operational costs and protect the environment. Farmers envision machinery that enhances productivity without adding to pollution. Students, our next generation of engineers and environmental advocates, are learning firsthand how innovation can power change.

As the world races toward sustainability, EMRDC stands as a beacon of what’s possible when science, policy, and community come together. It is more than just a research center; it is a movement—one that dares to dream of electric roads, cleaner cities, empowered workers, and a truly green economy.

Click photos to know more about the innovations.