Department of Energy - Petron EcoRun 2017 Results

Over 50 vehicles were fielded by local car manufacturers and distributors to join this year’s Department of Energy (DOE) Eco Run powered by the country’s leading oil company, Petron Corporation. The event was held last November 21 along a 216-kilometer route on the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX).

I was so fortunate to be invited as an independent media observer for the Department of Energy (DOE) - PETRON ECORUN 2017 held last November 21, 2017. Forty-six other automotive
media friends and myself were shuttled from Manila to the Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga on the afternoon of the November 20. We all met up at the Petron gas Station on M.A. Roxas Highway. Upon our arrival we were treated to a very heavy merienda and there the Petron Team briefed us on the event. We then headed to the Red Planet hotel which was to be our home for the overnight event. 

Welcoming us was Maribelle Alba fron ADBM Resources

We were asked to rest until 8pm in the evening to prepare us for long morning ahead. The event would start at 12am end at  6am the next day. Call time was at 8:30pm after which we were again treated to a sumptous late dinner at Binulo Restaurant which serves yummy Filipino dishes by the way. Welcoming us to the event was Maribelle Alba of ADBM Resources. 

Each participating car was provided a Bag of Treats

After the sumptous feast we all to proceeded to the Petron Clark Gas Station once more for the official opening ceremony and flag off. DOE Usec Wimpy Fuentebella and Petron's AVP for Marketing, Anna Neri both gave the opening remarks and handed out the keys of participating vehicles which were collected earlier after the cars were topped-up with Petron fuel and their gas tanks sealed. Each car was also equipped with a large bag containing snacks and water from Petron Treats.

My Ride for DOE Petron Ecorun 2017, a 2018 Honda CRV 1.6 Diesel Turbo 9AT.

The media observers on the other hand had no idea what make/model car they will be riding in. They were all randomly chosen like a raffle. I got to be the observer for a White 2018 Honda CRV Diesel Turbo driven by Honda representative Prince Pullo. 

The job of an observer was just to see to it and make sure the vehicle he was riding in had the airconditioning set to maximum cooling, the car's transmission was never put on neutral while moving, and that the engine was never shut-off unless instructed by the marchals. This rules made it an even playing field for all participants.

Flagging off is DOE Usec Wimpy Fuentebella

The flag-off started at about 1am, November 21. The route covered  216 kilometers starting from Clark-Petron traversing the length of  the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) to the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) and back. The whole run took about 4 hours including the much needed bladder breaks. All the cars were back by 5am. Their tank-lid-seals were removed and theirs tanks filled to the brim with Petron Fuels. Consumed fuel was then logged and computed. 

With the outstanding results obtained from the fuel efficiency benchmarking run last year, the Department of Energy (DOE) once again tapped oil industry leader Petron Corporation to be the official fuel of the DOE Eco Run 2017. The run is part of the Philippine Energy Standards and Labeling Program (PESLP), which has now expanded its coverage to light duty motor vehicles. This also strengthens the DOE’s energy efficiency and conservation "E-Power Mo" program.

 Of the 52 official vehicles and 3 guest entries fielded by local car manufacturers and distributors, two diesel-powered vehicles, the Ssangyong Rodius and the Mini Countryman, obtained fuel efficiency ratings (FER) above 30-km/L.  Powered by Petron Turbo Diesel Euro 4, 50% of the diesel vehicles achieved outstanding FERs over 20-km/L. 

The Ssangyong Rodius, which ran on Petron Turbo Diesel Euro 4, emerged as the most efficient vehicle after registering a fuel efficiency rating of 33.12-km/L.

The best performers in the diesel category running on Petron Turbo Diesel Euro 4 include:

Ssangyong Rodius 2.0 AT (33.12-km/L) 
Mini Countryman 2.0 AT (30.64-km/L) 
Volkswagen Golf GTS 2.0 AT (27.91-km/L) 
Hyundai Accent 1.6 AT (27.80-km/L)
Peugeot 3008 2.0 AT (25.39-km/L)
Volkswagen Jetta 2.0 AT (24.75-km/L)
Honda CR-V 1.6 AT (23,96-km/L)
Mahindra Supro 1.0 MT (22.52-km/L)
Ssangyong Tivoli XLV 1.6 AT (22.35-km/L)
Toyota Innova 2.8 AT (21.60-km/L)
Volvo V90 Cross Country D4 2.0 AT (21.40-km/L)
Volvo S90 D4 2.0 AT (21.13-km/L)
Mitsubishi Montero Sports 2.5 MT (20.43-km/L).

The Kia Picanto 1.3 AT obtained the highest fuel efficiency rating among gasoline-fed vehicles running on Petron XCS Euro 4 at an impressive 29.23-km.

The best performers in the gasoline category running on Petron XCS Euro 4 include:

Kia Picanto 1.3 AT topping the list at 29.23-km/L
Toyota Vios 1.5 AT (25.88-km/L)
Toyota Wigo 1.0 AT (25.19-km/L)
Suzuki Alto 800cc MT (24.81-km/L)
Honda City 1.5 AT (23.91-km/L)
Suzuki Swift 1.2 MT (23.27-km/L)
Mazda 2 1.5 AT (22.82-km/L)
Honda BR-V 1.5 AT (22.22-km/L)
Suzuki Vitara 1.6 AT (20.57-km/L)
Mazda CX5 2.0 AT (20.22-km/L)
Peugeot 2008 1.2 AT (20.19-km/L).

The official entries were driven by a two-man driver/co-driver team with an independent media observer to ensure that DOE guidelines were followed. The participating car companies included Asianbrands Motors Corporation (Mahindra), Automobile Central Enterprise Inc. (Volkswagen), Bayan Automotive Industries Corporation (BAIC), Berjaya Auto Philippines (Mazda), British United Automobiles Inc., Columbian Autocar Corporation (Kia), Eurobrands Distributor Inc. (Peugeot), Ford Group Philippines, Honda Cars Philippines Inc., Hyundai Asia Resources Inc., Isuzu Philippines Corporation, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation, Motor Image Pilipinas Inc. (Subaru), Nissan Philippines Inc., Ssangyong Berjaya Motor Philippines, Suzuki Philippines Inc., The Covenant Car Company Inc. (Chevrolet), Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation, United Asia Automotive Group Inc. (Foton), and Volvo Philippines.

BMW Philippines entered two guest vehicles including the BMW 318D powered by Petron Turbo Diesel Euro 4 which had a fuel efficiency rating of 26.94 km/L.

BMW Philippines also fielded two guest vehicles which showed excellent results. The BMW 318D had a FER of 26.94 km/L and the BMW X1 reached 23.88 kilometer per liter. Both vehicles were powered by Petron Turbo Diesel Euro 4.

During the announcement of results held at the Fontana Leisure Park in Clark a few hours after the run, DOE Usec. Wimpy Fuentebella noted that, “DOE aims to empower our consumers in their choice of vehicle by putting a premium on energy efficiency.”

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(L-R) Monchster, DOE Usec Wimpy Fuentebella, Arabelle Jimenez of Beautiful Life.

 “We want to inform our consumers that fuel efficiency should be part of their criteria in making a decision aside from the brand, color and other operating features,” Fuentebella added.

Petron, meanwhile, renewed its commitment of support for the government’s energy conservation efforts. According to Petron General Manager Lubin Nepomuceno, “Through our strong partnership with DOE, particularly in the DOE Fuel Eco Run, Petron hopes to provide Filipino motorists with realistic and comparable fuel efficiency ratings that can help them make informed decisions not only for their vehicle purchases, but also in their long-term operating and maintenance expenses.”

Petron leads the industry not only in market share but also in fuel innovation. All its fuels are specially formulated with the TriAction Advantage which delivers: (1) better engine protection for longer engine life; (2) extraordinary mileage for longer drives; and (3) better power. In mid-2017, its flagship Petron Blaze 100 Euro 6 was certified as the best gasoline in the country. Petron has the largest distribution network in the country, with over 2,200 Petron service stations nationwide.

Petron invested US $2-billion to upgrade its Bataan Refinery and ensure the reliable production of more environment-friendly and premium fuels. It also operates a fuel additives blending plant in Subic Bay, in partnership with the leading global fuel specialties company Innospec. With these capabilities, Petron is able to produce world-class fuel variants that meet the unique needs of Filipino motorists.

Monch "Monchster" Henares is a blogger, tech and motoring specialist, inventor, and automotive engineer. He managed the motorpool for a limousine company in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. He is now based in Manila, Philippines.

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