Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla on Tuesday called on Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC) to continue supporting the country’s clean transport system through electric vehicle (EV) innovation.
Lotilla made the request during a visit by MMPC chairman Noriaki Hirakata and other company representatives, coinciding with the signing of a memorandum of agreement to lend the Department of Energy a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) to promote the technology.
He urged MMPC to assist the industry by sharing innovation in EV charging stations and other EV infrastructure, including assisting the development of soft skills on these new technologies.
Lotilla said there is a growing adoption of EVs in the country, citing 94 battery EVs, 19 plug-in hybrid EVs, 30 hybrid EVs, and 32 light EVs registered in January under the Comprehensive Roadmap for the Electric Vehicle Industry (CREVI).
The energy chief said 96 commercial EV charging stations were deployed as of December 2023.
He also reiterated President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s goal of having 50 percent or more of all vehicles on the road be electric by 2040 to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1.9 million tons.
He cited the urgency of addressing emissions from the transportation sector, which account for over 30 percent of the country’s final energy consumption and contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
“Making transport cleaner is also part of the country’s commitment to fulfill its nationally determined contributions, a climate pledge that promises to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And we are committed to decarbonize our transport sector,” Lotilla said earlier.
The energy chief outlined the government’s vision for a network of over 100,000 charging stations powered by renewable energy, alongside a thriving EV industry expected to create an estimated 40,000 jobs in manufacturing and technology support.
“These are milestones in our journey, guided by the Comprehensive Roadmap for the Electric Vehicle Industry or the CREVI, which sets a minimum 10 percent target EV share for all sectors, excluding EV trucks by 2040 under the Business-As-Usual Scenario,” he said.
Lotilla acknowledged the challenges of high acquisition costs, inadequate infrastructure and limited technical support, but stressed the need for a multi-pronged approach to promote EV.
“I am particularly concerned about how we can help our micro and small and medium enterprises, which are involved at every stage, to adjust to this transition period,” he said.