karen_seeh
Another Satisfied Envirofit Customer
Project Summary
Objective
To improve air quality in the Philippine city of Vigan by selling a cost-effective retrofit that significantly reduces two-stroke engine pollution.
Rationale
Though it kills 3–6 million each year, air pollution is not always recognized for its pervasive role in poor health, poverty, and economic stagnation in developing countries. A major source of air pollution is two-stroke engines, which power 100 million vehicles across Southeast Asia -- each producing the pollution of 50 automobiles. Localized bans fail to remove two-strokes from the larger market. As in many of the region’s cities, the health of Vigan’s residents is under siege by air pollution. The city’s air quality problems can be traced to its 3000+ two-stroke taxis.
Innovation / Effectiveness
Envirofit has developed a two-stroke retrofit that significantly improves fuel efficiency and reduces emissions. We have engaged in field testing and awareness building in the Philippines and are now selling our retrofit to taxi drivers in Vigan, with the city government offering micro-loans to spur adoption. Fuel and oil savings result in an immediate payback - the retrofit pays for itself within a year. Envirofit’s goal now is to pursue full-scale market development with the objective of retrofitting Vigan’s entire fleet of two-stroke taxis within three years. Secondarily, we are pursuing capacity development to train local maintenance centers and increase local sourcing of retrofit components. Upon completion, our project will result annually in the removal of 127,000 automobile equivalents of pollution and the infusion of $1.1M into the local economy.
Another Satisfied Envirofit Customer
Project Summary
Objective
To improve air quality in the Philippine city of Vigan by selling a cost-effective retrofit that significantly reduces two-stroke engine pollution.
Rationale
Though it kills 3–6 million each year, air pollution is not always recognized for its pervasive role in poor health, poverty, and economic stagnation in developing countries. A major source of air pollution is two-stroke engines, which power 100 million vehicles across Southeast Asia -- each producing the pollution of 50 automobiles. Localized bans fail to remove two-strokes from the larger market. As in many of the region’s cities, the health of Vigan’s residents is under siege by air pollution. The city’s air quality problems can be traced to its 3000+ two-stroke taxis.
Innovation / Effectiveness
Envirofit has developed a two-stroke retrofit that significantly improves fuel efficiency and reduces emissions. We have engaged in field testing and awareness building in the Philippines and are now selling our retrofit to taxi drivers in Vigan, with the city government offering micro-loans to spur adoption. Fuel and oil savings result in an immediate payback - the retrofit pays for itself within a year. Envirofit’s goal now is to pursue full-scale market development with the objective of retrofitting Vigan’s entire fleet of two-stroke taxis within three years. Secondarily, we are pursuing capacity development to train local maintenance centers and increase local sourcing of retrofit components. Upon completion, our project will result annually in the removal of 127,000 automobile equivalents of pollution and the infusion of $1.1M into the local economy.