The Philippines faces some 20 storms and typhoons every year, five of which have the potential to be very destructive. Being completely exposed to the western Pacific Ocean renders it vulnerable to severe weather systems, while being an archipelago leaves its islands unprotected from storm surges that cause devastating floods.

For a country that faces these problems on a regular basis, a vehicle that can tread both land and water would be a game changer. When the Filipino-made amphibious vehicle Salamander launched early last year, it made waves for its innovative fusion of technologies and straightforward practicality.

What is the Salamander?

The Salamander is the product of a collaboration between Atoy Llave of Atoy Customs fame and Lamberto Armada of H20 Technologies, a start-up company dedicated to providing sustainable innovations. They set out to create a tricycle meant for regular patrols and rescue operations, therefore providing a solution to one the country’s most pressing problems during the typhoon season: transporting people and relief supplies through and out of flooded areas.

The three-wheeled, two-door vehicle is made of strong, reinforced fibreglass and modular steel. It is powered by either a 5-kilowatt electric engine or a 250-cc gasoline-powered motor. Capacity-wise, it can seat six passengers on land, but only four when in water. Other features include mud propellers, retractable aluminum oars for manual paddling, and a solar panel and six USB ports for mobile charging.

Where is it available?

The Salamander is not yet in the market as Llave and H20 Technologies are still looking for funding. However, since the announcement of its existence, the vehicle has been displayed in the Manila International Auto Show, and most recently, at HistoryCon Manila 2016, in the hopes of generating interest from the private sector.

Currently, it has partnered with crowd funding website startsomegood.com for the collection of 197.5 million pesos to produce the first 500 units of the vehicle. They will then be donated to the Philippine Red Cross for use in flood-prone areas.

Photos taken from H2O Salamander's Facebook account