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.
EMRDC’s work has begun to ripple across the nation. Through partnerships with local government units, provincial governments, MSMEs, state universities and colleges, and transport organizations, the center is turning prototypes into production models and research into real-world applications.
Beyond policies and prototypes, the heart of EMRDC lies in the communities it touches—from drivers reducing fuel expenses to students learning 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 a movement that dares to dream of electric roads, cleaner cities, empowered workers, and a truly green economy.
Click the photos to learn more about the innovations. 