Philippines Expands Deployment Of E-vehicles

More electric vehicles are being deployed in the country, Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) President Rommel T. Juan said.

Juan mentioned that e-jeepneys are now roving in various areas such as Makati, Filinvest City in Alabang, Bonifacio Global City, Las Pinas, Iloilo, Bacolod, Muntinlupa and even in university campuses like La Salle and Ateneo.

Likewise, e-tricycle are being adopted not only in Metro Manila particularly in areas of Manila and Mandaluyong but also in provinces such as Boracay in Aklan, Naga in Camarines Sur, and Coron in Palawan where a single largest deployment of 100 units in a single community was done.

“We are happy that many local government units (LGUs) have adopted the EV (e-vehicle) transport systems. We hope that with the proof of concept already evident, even more LGUs will follow suit as we now offer not just EVs but a complete mass transport solution package,” the EVAP president said.

He added that EVAP’s annual e-vehicle summit has attracted foreign investors, especially from the United States, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and China, to explore their opportunities in the Philippines.

In its recent summit last month, industry players from Canada, Australia and Kuwait displayed their lines of e-vehicles.

“In some cases, these foreign investors have tied up with local EV players through either technical licensing agreements or joint ventures. It has been a slow burn but through the efforts of our association, its members and the government, this has enabled us to successfully roll out various EV projects around the country,” said Juan.

“Indeed slowly but surely, the EV advocacy is growing in the Philippines. And people are doing it not just for the environment but also for economic viability. EV operators and drivers in the public transport sector have reported a growth in income when they went electric. Commuters prefer the quiet, smoke free, comfortable ride that they enjoy with EVs. As a result, drivers post higher rider numbers and more income,” he added.

He also encouraged industry players to maximize the potential of the huge local market then start exploring neighboring markets such as the ASEAN. (PNA) BNB/KMC