At least 50 individual drivers have filed Certificates of Public Convenience (CPC) applications with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to operate electric vehicles (EVs) within the Grab Philippines platform, as the company ramps up efforts to electrify its transport fleet.
“These are individuals who are ready to take the leap. There’s no restriction on the model, brand, or type of EV — some may go for hybrids, others for fully electric vehicles. It’s really up to them,” said Grab Philippines chief corporate officer Sherielysse Bonifacio, speaking on the sidelines of the EJAP Infrastructure Forum held Monday at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati City.
Bonifacio said Grab is actively assisting these applicants in processing their permits and exploring ways to support EV adoption through infrastructure initiatives such as installing charging stations, starting in their Marikina Driver Center.
In 2024, Grab piloted a ride-hailing service with 10 electric vehicles in partnership with Chinese EV maker BYD, showing operational cost savings of up to 70 percent to 75 percent per kilometer compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
Although the pilot ended in July, Grab has since opened its platform to EVs of any make or model, and fares remain regulated under the LTFRB matrix.
“This doesn’t mean lower fares, but it does mean drivers can earn more and drive longer. That’s the real impact,” Bonifacio said.
Grab is also working with fleet partners to broaden the adoption of EV taxis, with a recent collaboration with EV Taxi Corp bringing in Changan electric vehicles for beta testing in key Metro Manila business hubs such as Makati, Manila, Taguig and Pasay.
“Taxi partnerships are easier to scale because fleet operators can mobilize faster. It’s also more cost-efficient,” she said.
The company’s total active transport supply currently stands at about 55,000 vehicles, down from 65,000 pre-pandemic.
The spokesperson acknowledged that challenges such as the high upfront cost of EVs and limited charging infrastructure remain, but said Grab is exploring better financing options with partners like BYD to make EV ownership more accessible through smaller down payments and improved payment schemes.
“We’re playing it by ear, learning from what other countries have done. But our hope is that with these pilots and word of mouth, more drivers will see that going electric is a smart move,” Bonifacio said.