It’s no secret that groups like AC Mobility are working tirelessly to bring accessible charging stations to all corners of the Philippines. The question is, is the Philippines really moving towards an all EV future?
For those of you who haven’t heard, Electric Vehicles, better known as EVs, have recently become the hottest new thing on the block. You can’t drive around Metro Manila without seeing a BYD Sealion or a KIA EV6 these days. With the jump in popularity, is the EV trend just a passing fad or is it the future shape of the automotive world? There are several good reason why people get EVs and it’s not just because it’s the new trend.
Cost-Efficient Cars
We’ve sung the praises of EVs for a long time now. We even went in depth with just how much money driving an EV can save you (Check out that article next!) and the other benefits of owning one. But it’s not just because it’s the hottest trend or it’s the newest shiny toy. No, EVs are really just that good! The only problem is the accessibility of charging and facilities for them in the Philippines.
While we are slowly adopting the trend, we barely have enough charging stations and care facilities outside of Metro Manila. The one upside ICE vehicles have over EVs is the multitude of options ICE owners have when it comes to facilities and gas stations. Maintenance for EVs needs to be done in-house compared to the thousands of other mechanics that can service ICE vehicles. That’s one of the factors people tend to look at when getting an EV over an ICE vehicle. However, that change is coming in the future. Companies like BYD and KIA are partnered with ACMobility to bring a fully EV infrastructure to the Philippines.
Other cities and provinces in Luzon now have access to charging stations and maintenance facilities, but that’s more than can be said for the rest of the country. The good news is that cities like Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and even Iligan City now have their first EV charging stations. This opens up options for potential car owners to pick up an EV when considering what to buy. While the progress is slow, it’s a step in the right direction for the future of clean driving.
Can the Philippines Handle it?
A stumbling block of the goal is the simple fact that the current infrastructure and system is built around ICE vehicles. It’s not easy to adopt change and implementing an EV infrastructure will require a major overhaul of the current system. EVs have been around for a while now but only recently are the changes being felt. It’s a slow process, but one that the country desperately needs.
While the main benefit of owning an EV is the reduction in our carbon footprint (The Philippines is already too hot as it is), it also can cost you less to keep driving it. Metro Manila has already shown that there is a chance for a successful integration of EVs and HEVs. If that system can be implemented to the rest of the country, there’s surely going to be a better chance of an all EV future.
We get it. EVs are the brand new thing and there are a lot of skeptics out there who doubt the success and reliability of these vehicles. But give it another 5 years or so and then we can see if EVs are really just another fad. If you look on the brighter side of things, it just means that we’ll have more options in the future should the country fully adopt this shift!
Final Thoughts
The change isn’t fast, but it is coming. Metro Manila used to be dominated by ICE vehicles but now, you can’t drive for 5 minutes without seeing another charging station or another EV/HEV on the road. It’s not impossible to say that we might end up like the USA with a fully adopted EV system, but it may be a little ways off. In the meantime, I personally believe that a lot of the change can come with people first trying out HEVs before committing to the full EV life.
Wanna see how EVs can save you money? Check out this article!
