Electric Cars in the Philippines

Electric vehicles are great for car owners who are conscious about the dizzyingly high price of fuel. The electricity needed to charge an EV costs considerably less than a full tank of fuel. EVs also produce fewer tailpipe emissions than regular cars because of their reliance on electric power.

However, the time it takes to charge an EV, even with a DC fast-charger, is much longer than the time it takes to fill a fuel tank. In addition, trips in an EV must be planned carefully because of the Philippines’ fledgling EV charging network.

Buying an EV has become a lot more appealing following new government legislation. For one, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued an executive order that drops duties on imported EVs and spare parts to zero until 2028. This has led to a huge price drop for various battery EVs, putting them in the same price range as regular cars.

Also, Republic Act 11697 or the “Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act” (EVIDA) provides non-fiscal incentives like number-coding exemption in Metro Manila and discounted vehicle registration fees until 2030.

Under EVIDA, the Philippines is striving to integrate more EVs into its mobility network. The law also mandates the construction of EV-exclusive parking areas and charging stations for buildings old and new. The government is also mandating public and private vehicle fleets to transition to battery EVs within a set timeframe, along with targeting only the sale of brand-new EVs by 2040.

While buying an EV might be a noble and practical exercise, one must first consider the use case for an EV purchase. Consider the range of the EV you want to purchase along with its charging times.

How far do you drive each day on the average? Do you have easy access to a charging facility or electric wall outlet? Are there any operational charging stations near by that you can take advantage of? Are you willing to change some aspects of your lifestyle and travel habits with an EV purchase? And finally, are you willing to adapt and learn the new technology that goes along with EV ownership. Knowing the answers to these questions will help you decide whether an EV is right for you.

There are many choices currently available in the market today when it comes to BEV, HEV and PHEV. Most affordable EVs are currently sourced from China through brands like BYD, Dongfeng, Foton, GWM, Jetour, Hongqi, Weltmeister, Wuling and soon BAW, MG and Omoda.

The mainstream Japanese and Korean brands such as Honda, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Kia and Hyundai have their various BEV, PHEV and HEV offerings as well. Higher-end BEVs and Hybrids may also be sourced from Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, and Hongqi.

Using an EV oftentimes involves a change of mindset. What was once a convenient practice of filling up with fuel in a nearby gas station with an ICE vehicle is not as easy with EVs. Urban EV use is not a problem as about 80% of EV charging is done at homes.

Malls are also typical locations of EV charging stations. But for out of town drives, you must plan and study your route and destination to see how accessible charging is along the way. Always remember that the manufacturer claimed range is not always attainable due to driving habits and road conditions. A good rule of thumb is to work with only 80% of the published range of a vehicle to give yourself some leeway in planning your charging schedules.

It actually depends on your usage. Knowing how far you drive each day on the average is a good place to start. With the decent choices available in the market now starting from 120 km all the way to more than 500 km, you can compute which vehicle would suit your needs. For strictly city use, and a little beyond, an EV with a range of 170 kilometers is good enough for starters.

Make sure to take into account the current electricity rates. As of June 2023, Meralco currently charges ₱11.91 per kWh which means an additional strain on your electricity bill if you want to charge your EV at home.

Buying an EV over an internal combustion engine vehicle will depend on your use case. If you aren’t near any EV charging stations and don’t want to go through the hassle of having to wait several hours for your vehicle to charge then its best to go with a gasoline or diesel powered car.

However, if you are near an EV charging station with fast charging available then buying an EV may be suitable for you. Having a charging station near you can cut the time it will take to charge your EV and these charging stations are often free lessening the load they add to your electricity bill.

Like with any other vehicle manufactured today, EVs undergo rigorous testing by manufacturers before they are put out for sale. Depending on the brand, they will go through several crash safety test simulations and battery safety checks to ensure your safety in the event of a crash.

Manufacturers will also stress test their battery packs under several extreme conditions, such as high temperature, low temperatures, and over charging. They will also test waterproof capabilities of their battery packs along with penetrative tests to ensure that the battery pack does not burst into flames in the event of a crash. The typical Philippine flood? Yes, they can handle those too.