Electric vehicle adoption in the Philippines is expected accelerate in the coming months, as the registered units increased 495.3 percent in the first quarter to 2,536 from 426 in 2022.
The Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines said the adoption was expected to increase phenomenally, with the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act or Republic Act No. 11697 backing the local EV industry.
“What we have are figures for the first quarter alone, and the rise in registration is quite phenomenal. We cannot calculate nor do we have projections of how fast the industry is acclimatizing to the law, but the numbers speaks volume of the extreme potential for growth of the EV industry,” said EVAP president Raymond Araga during the pre-event briefing Wednesday for the upcoming Philippine Vehicle Summit 2023.
EVIDA incentivizes EV adoption nationwide—through allocating dedicated parking slots in establishments, assigning green routes across cities and municipalities and exempting the vehicles from traffic coding schemes, among other perks. Public and private sectors have also been working to make charging stations more conveniently accessible to EV owners.
EVAP said while the law provides incentives, implementation remains a big challenge as it involves extensive output and promotion.
“The EV industry is still making necessary adjustments in terms of supplies and infrastructures. Transitions are on the way in terms of regulations being set by different government agencies involved,” Araga said.
The Department of Energy is crafting the development of the Comprehensive Roadmap for the Electric Vehicle Industry which comes with inter-agency support while facilitating public consultations for the Vehicle Fuel Economy Labeling Program and the Fuel Economy Performance Rating.
The Department of Trade and Industry is also drafting the Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy, while the Department of Transportation is keeping its focus on public utility vehicles modernization, with EV as the priority.
Other government agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways are doing their share by including EVs into their fleets.
“There will be a preference for EVs already through this period through 2030. We’re projecting that by 2030 onward, only battery EVs should be purchased by the government. And the government is also mandated to put in its facilities, charging stations and make them accessible to the public,” said DOE director for Energy Utilization Management Bureau Patrick Aquino.
The private sector is actively investing in more charging stations in strategic locations nationwide using the latest innovative EV charging technology. Many private companies are taking the initiative to procure EVs for enhancing their own fleets, highlighting their efforts to lower carbon emissions and lower energy dependency on gasoline.
EVAP will launch the Philippine Battery Consortium during the 11th PEVS on Oct. 19 to 21, 2023 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
EVAP is holding PEVS 2023 with the Manila Electric Company and in partnership with the DOE and Nissan Philippines Inc.