Two and three-wheeled electric bikes have become a staple in the greater Metro Manila areas. Even beyond that too where cities and municipalities are not as busy as in the country’s capital. But where streets are developed enough with popular establishments like convenience stores, coffee shops, fast-food restaurants, laundry services, and more.

I have lived in a family compound cul-de-sac surrounded by subdivisions for as long as I have been existing. And I must say the e-bike is definitely a game-changer for residents living in rural to suburban areas.

Without a doubt, the e-bike is useful to ferry your children to your local elementary or private school. Going to buy lunch? Just hop onto one and save yourself time and energy. For others who work just nearby, it has become the alternative mode of transportation to get to the workplace or to get out of the looban and to the nearest loading/unloading station for jeeps and buses.

Just to give a better picture, our house is a few hundred meters away from the barangay’s main road. Even farther from the city’s major highways. I’m spared from the noise of cars, trucks, and buses. But have to deal with dogs, cats, and even chickens and ducks daily.

Tricycles are the main mode of transportation for commuters to get to the city “center” and for those who have to go to Manila daily. Sari-sari stores are the go-to for most purchases that are needed quickly, while talipapas provide the locals with fresh produce.

It’s normal for residents for such an environment to just walk daily for errands here and there. Those who have day jobs opt for motorcycles, which come in very cheap monthly payment rates.

An everyday hero

Hatasu was generous enough to grant us temporary usage of the Hatasu HERO. It’s the brand’s latest three-wheeler which is marketed as an “everyday hero.” It can accomplish basically everything I mentioned above. It retails for just PhP 64,990 and is readily available via Lazada.

The demo unit I received came in a gray body with the HERO’s signature black mask-looking windshield and roof. It came complete with a charger cord, a helmet, and a trapal in case of driving under inclement weather.

At first glance, it’s already a standout compared to most e-bikes I see in my barangay. It has that certain stylishness and elegance. The Hatasu HERO has a bigger front wheel with suspension to complement braking. There is a spacious compartment under the back seat. It can fit medium to big bags or a few boxes of groceries. There is also a cage on the rear for extra storage.

Running errands and more

Given my setup where I work mostly from home and only have to commute to Metro Manila about two to three times weekly for other endeavors, the e-bike provided me a helping hand when it came to going out to do chores. Obviously, I cannot drive it along major highways, but it made practical tasks easier.

I was able to go to my preferred laundry shop that was about one-and-a-half kilometers away and purchase some food along the way back home. As there is also a nearby cemetery that is just three kilometers from our compound, I invited my cousin to just use the e-bike with me to visit her late mother, who passed away a few months ago.

Before the day I was scheduled to have the model returned, I was also able to test it for a longer run when I had to take my girlfriend home from our compound to her subdivision in Imus. The journey took above nine kilometers for one way. We even had a stopover at a nearby McDonald’s branch. After wrapping up the trip, the e-bike lost just one bar from its battery indicator (four bars at full).

Power-efficient

It was in these uses where the existence of e-bike serves its purpose. I didn’t have to charge the Hatasu HERO a lot throughout the week-long use for short trips. I was also impressed by its power as it was able to maneuver past rough roads with relative ease. The three-speed switcher on the right handle also gave me flexibility against humps and when driving on the main road that required more speed. On paper, the Hatasu HERO has a listed speed of 20 to 25 kph, but I was able to take it to as fast as 35 kph.

Throughout this short experience, I’ve picked up a few takeaways.

E-bikers need an equivalent driving school course

What made it a breeze for me throughout the trip was the fact that I own a driver’s license and underwent driving school training. I just had to apply the basics of driving to get accustomed to the e-bike in less than a day.

On the road, I stayed on the rightmost part of the traffic as I know e-bikes do not run as fast as motorcycles or four-wheelers. I always use the turn signal lights, switch from different speeds depending on the situation, and use the horn when I must.

On the downside, not everyone underwent the same training as I did. It’s obvious that most e-bike users own e-bikes because it’s what they can afford at the moment given how tough the economy is. However, the lack in basic driving knowledge manifests on the streets, where it can get chaotic at times. I’m sure people have had the experience of watching examples on social media. Minors can even drive e-bikes because there are no rules enforced against it yet.

This is an issue that government offices have to address moving forward to standardize the usage of e-bikes. In Imus, Cavite, fortunately, the LGU requires e-bikes to be registered for just a small fee and a few documentary requirements. Drivers shall also be given a small plate number. This registration is renewed every year.

Aside from streamlining that process, it is imperative that e-bike owners undergo some sort of equivalent driving school seminar at the very least, so they can familiarize themselves with the intricacies of driving and the do’s and don’ts on the road. That way, we can share our roads better, and get to my second point, which is:

We’re far away from a society where various vehicles can co-exist, but getting there

As mentioned, we are still ways to go from seeing streets where bicycle, e-bike, motorcycle, and private vehicle owners can co-exist smoothly.

I felt this the most during the trip where I had to drop my girlfriend home. Motorcycles kept overtaking right. E-bike users do not use their turn signals and tail-gate larger vehicles which can totally be dangerous. Some stay in the “fast lane” which stalls traffic behind.

Again, this stems from the lack of education about driving, which can be addressed by stakeholders altogether. I am all for leveraging technology and utilizing it to make our lives easier. However, we cannot be selfish about it either because we all live in one collective society. It’s always about give-and-take.

I’m willing to keep one

Of course, that may change if in another world, I live in, say, a condominium in the bustling metro areas or somewhere else. However, given the status quo, even a two-wheeler e-bike does its job and makes our daily lives more efficient. I can understand why middle-class families or individuals have opted for such an alternative vehicle.

For one, it’s eco-friendly since it uses electricity, and very cheap to maintain compared to owning a car. It charges for about eight hours from one bar to full, which does not cost much compared to fuel. Fuel prices also depend on the global economy as well. You can also just wipe the entire vehicle clean with a damp cloth, instead of having to go to the carwash regularly. 

The compact form of the Hatasu HERO makes it a space-saver as well. Especially in subdivisions or compounds with narrow streets and for families who do not have the luxury of owning large lots. 

Lastly, it’s very affordable. At aPhP 20,000 to PhP 70,000 price range, it’s more realistic to finance a model or just pay in straight cash. And just like cars used for courier or ride-hailing services, you can use e-bikes to support your small business or side hustle like deliveries or having a local school service for kids.

Riding the Hatasu HERO for one week certainly opened my eyes to what else needs to be done to make the world a better place. If that sounds tricky to do, it’s because it is. Perhaps, we can start somewhere — like our society, and a be a “hero” everyone else looks up to.