A fleet of battery-powered jeepneys make their maiden voyage in Makati City on November 10, 2009. The rides, which are for free, are financed by the city government as part of a campaign to reduce its greenhouse emissions. (JAY DIRECTO/AFP)

Makati City played host to 10 electric jeeps (e-jeepneys) that transported passengers along major routes in the Central Business District.

Former beauty queen-turned-actress Miriam Quiambao drove one of the 12-seater and battery-operated vehicles during the launch of the Makati Green Route that also inaugurated the first charging station and depot for electric jeepneys at the Makati Central Fire Station on Ayala Avenue Extension on Tuesday.

The Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) said that the newly-deployed emission-free e-jeepneys will ferry commuters from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays to Fridays for free to encourage the public to make use of it.

ICSC director Red Constantino also said that the Makati Green Route project is expected to dramatically reduce noise and air pollution in the city as the e-jeepneys do not emit noise or discharge carbon dioxide which is harmful to the environment.

"We are making the climate solutions of tomorrow available to Filipinos today. Bold action is needed during this period when we are beset by the financial and climate crisis. We commend the leadership of Makati City for showing to the country and the world what Filipinos are capable of," said Red Constantino, director of the ICSC.

Constantino also said that by deploying e-jeepneys in one of the busiest cities in the country, ICSC, together with Stichting Doen Foundation, is offering sustainable transport system with clean energy utilization to help mitigate global warming. And since e-jeepneys have a 10-second dwell time per stop, the Makati Green Route will also reduce traffic jams.

The regular route of the e-jeepneys includes major thoroughfares within Salcedo and Legaspi Villages, starting and ending at the LandMark along Makati Avenue, but the Makati City government is eyeing its expansion to the EDSA-Estrella-Rockwell vicinity.