A person cleans an electric vehicle  at Uptown Bonifacio in Taguig on July 14, 2022 during the launch of Megaworld Lifestyle Malls’ first ever charging station along with exhibits featuring various government agencies and electric mobility groups. The initiative comes in support of the country’s transition to cleaner energy and aims to promote sustainable solutions in reducing carbon footprint. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- The Department of Energy (DOE) on Wednesday said the Philippines is on track to hit its target number of electric vehicle charging stations for 2024.

During the launch of Tesla’s first Supercharging station in Taguig, DOE Undersecretary Wimpy Fuentebella said the government aims to add a hundred more every year.

Currently, there are more than 800 charging points across 120 locations nationwide, according to the DOE.

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“Kasama sa pagbenta (ng sasakyan) yung paglagay ng charging station sa bahay. Naka-bundle siya so hindi siya yung sinasabi nating, ilan yung itatayo niyong (charging) station? Hindi e. Charging points nga ang tawag. So meron tayo sa mall, mga parking area, dapat meron tayo sa condo. Tapos ang matindi, meron sa mga bahay,” said Fuentebella.

He added that, with the help of companies like Tesla, the DOE is optimistic that next year’s target will also be met which would then also encourage more Filipinos to go electric.

“We’re confident that we will have more electric vehicle users and that will help a lot in the strategy of the Philippines in pushing for more greenhouse gas emissions reduction,” he said.

FAST-CHARGING SOLUTION

Fuentebella was among the energy officials who attended the ribbon-cutting event for Tesla Motor Philippines’ first Supercharging station at Uptown Mall in Bonifacio Global City.

The launch comes a month after the electric vehicle maker officially entered the Philippine market.

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Tesla Regional Director Isabel Fan said the technology allows users to go a distance of 120 kilometers after just five minutes of charging.

“It is very fast. It’s (like having) a cup of coffee and it’s done. It’s also very affordable pay-per-use charging, P19 per kilowatt. It’s the lowest in this country. The reason being, as our leader Elon Musk says, we need to enable,” said Fan.

Fan said the company plans to install more charging points across the country, in partnership with Megaworld and its townships, before the first set of Tesla cars is delivered next year.

“Before we deliver the first car, we have a charging plan for the country… We need to connect the cities in Metro Manila as well as other provinces in the future… to enable pure EV travel,” she added.

EV PENETRATION

Based on official data, only 0.01 percent of the 40 million registered vehicles in the Philippines are EVs.

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But Fuentebella said this is an undercount since, under the law, light electric vehicles are not required to be registered with the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

According to the DOE, electric vehicle associations reported nearly 20,000 in e-vehicle sales in 2023 but the LTO only recorded 7,515.

The agency is working with relevant government agencies like the LTO, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Trade and Industry to address the gap.

“Kailangan natin linisin yung listahan. Kailangan naming ayusin, as a team, yung tamang targeting and tamang figures para namomonitor natin nang maigi yung industriya at kung paano ito lumalaki, kung paano mas nakakatulong sa ekonomiya,” he said.

Fuentebella also welcomed the efforts of lawmakers to institutionalize tax incentives for the importation of e-vehicles through amendments in the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA).

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“Because the signal there is it helps the electric vehicle industry, the companies na mas nagiging robust yung fundamental rules dito sa bansa,” he said.

Meanwhile, Fuentebella assured the public that there is a mechanism in place, namely the Vehicles Fuel Economy Labeling Program, to prevent the dumping of old e-vehicle models from other countries in the Philippines.

“Meron din tayo nyan sa appliances— sa TV, sa refrigerator, sa aircon, sa bumbilya. Pag may nakita kang one star or pag nakita mo siya mall, ibig sabihin nun, pasado siya, efficient siya. Pag nagkaroon ka ng 5 stars, pinaka efficient siya,” he said.

“Yun yung strategy natin how to guide consumers and pagbawalan yung pagpasok ng mga inefficient na mga gamit,” he added.