For those who deny that the electric revolution is real – the numbers don’t lie.

U.S. cleantech publication CleanTechnica reported on February 2023 that 10,091,164 plug-in electric vehicles (EV), which include battery EVs and plug-in hybrid EVs, were registered worldwide in 2022.

This figure is 55 percent higher than the 6,495,388 cars registered in 2021. It is also the first time that global plug-in EV sales breached the 10-million mark.

Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines president Edmund Araga told AutoFun Philippines that the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has not yet provided data on how many EVs were registered in the Philippines in 2022.

Tesla Model Y is No. 1

Among the nearly 10.1 million plug-in EVs sold last year, the Tesla Model Y was the best-selling model with 771,300 units.

The Model Y is a compact battery EV crossover that started production on January 2020. It is powered by a 75-kWh battery pack and has a maximum range of up to 525 km in the Long Range AWD model.

The top 20 models make up nearly 45 percent of all plug-in EVs sold last year, with 14 coming from Chinese manufacturers. As of press time, the models highlighted in green are available in the Philippines either as gray-market imports are officially through their respective brand distributors. 
 

Among this list, the Wuling HongGuang Mini EV is a gray import available in two variants – the 170-km Macaron Edition and the 380-km Gameboy Edition.

The Chery QQ Ice Cream is also a gray import of SuperCharged Motors Inc. and is known simply as the Ice Cream Sundae. AutoFun Philippines has already driven this mini EV.

Meanwhile, the larger Chery eQ1 is being eyed for sale in the Philippines. Chery International is conducting a survey to gauge interest in the EV.

Finally, the Kia EV6 crossover is set to go on sale locally by March 2023, with prices expected to start under ₱4 million. 

The Hyundai IONIQ 5, which shares the same platform as the EV6, has been on sale since December 2022. Prices start at ₱3,068,000 with deliveries expected by March 2023.

Philippine EV revolution

The year 2022 also marked great changes in the local EV landscape as it moves into the mainstream.

Republic Act 11697 or the “Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act” lapsed into law on March 2022. The law’s implementing rules and regulations (IRR) took effect on September 2022.

R.A. 11697 provides various non-fiscal incentives for BEV and hybrid EV owners until April 2030. These include: 

• Exemption from number-coding schemes implemented by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and local government units

• Priority at the LTO for all their registration concerns

• A 30-percent discount for battery EVs and a 15-percent discount for hybrid EVs for the LTO motor vehicle user's charge, vehicle registration, and inspection fees

The law also sets the timeframe for when industrial and commercial companies, public transport operators, and government agencies will be required to have fleets that are at least five percent EV.

The framework aims to transition these sectors to become fully electric.

Cheaper EVs

Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued an executive order on January 2023 that cut import duties on battery EVs and their spare parts until 2028. 

Although manufacturers have already started slashing the prices of their EV models, the Bureau of Customs has yet to issue its IRR for this.

Araga also told AutoFun Philippines that the government is working on developing fiscal incentives for people who want to buy an EV. 

The Department of Trade and Industry aims to allow the sale of only brand-new EVs in the Philippines by 2040.

Growing EV infrastructure

R.A. 11697 also mandates significant changes in infrastructure for EVs, including the construction of dedicated EV parking slots and charging stations in all new public and private establishments. 

Gas stations and establishments like SM Malls are putting up their own EV charging stations in dedicated parking spots. Buildings that will be renovated must also comply with EV parking requirements.

Various firms are also planning to set up a network of EV charging stations, with Solarius EV Charging eyeing 180 stations by the end of 2023.

Do you see yourself in an EV in the next five years?

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