Available Now: EVs for less than ₱2 Million

Based on the car manufacturers' latest offerings during the recent Manila International Auto Show, almost every one of them had an electric vehicle. Never before have we had such a diverse choice of desirable electric vehicles (EVs).

As electric vehicles become more readily available, this will surely attract more motorists to make the big switch from fossil fuels to 100% battery power.

It's easy to see why there's such a growing interest in electric vehicles. Aside from the continued increase in fuel costs and vehicle maintenance, electric vehicles do away with engine parts and service. In fact, today’s crop of electric vehicles delivers comfort, performance, and range in a desirable package.

Of course, one of the biggest obstacles preventing a lot of car buyers from going electric is the price. Electric vehicles are traditionally seen as more expensive than their fossil-fueled counterparts. But not all electric vehicles cost a fortune. As proof, we have compiled a selection of electric vehicles that are all under 2 million pesos.

BYD Dolphin - ₱1,688,000

The Dolphin is an electric vehicle produced by Chinese manufacturer BYD Auto. The five-door hatchback sports a sleek futuristic design with highly sculpted bodylines and angular creases on the side.

The futuristic theme also extends inside the Dolphin with a large floating central infotainment touchscreen and a digital instrument cluster. The all-leather interior has a contrasting color combination with blue and beige trim accents. The Dolphin has practical door pockets and compartments, along with 345 liters of cargo space with the 60/40 split-folding rear seats up.

The Dolphin gets its power from an electric motor that drives the front wheels and is capable of 94hp and 180 Nm of torque. It comes with a 44.9 kWh battery comprised of a pack of wafer-like batteries mounted under the floor and within the car’s wheelbase.  

It adopts BYD's fast-charging technology with a direct cooling and heating system that it claims improves thermal efficiency by up to 20 percent. BYD says that the Dolphin can do up to 400 kilometers on a full charge. Owners can choose between charging from a 220-volt outlet for 20 hours or from a fast charger for seven hours. BYD also claims 0 to 50 km/h in 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 130 km/h.

Safety features also abound as BYD equipped it with a full suite of active and passive safety equipment. These include: Electronic stability control, Dual front airbags, Front-side airbags, ISOFIX child-restraint anchors, Brake-disc wiping system, Traction control, Anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, Hill-start control.

Dimensions

• Length - 4,070 mm
• Width - 1,770 mm
• Height - 1,570 mm
• Wheelbase - 2,700 mm

Jetour Ice Cream - ₱699,000

Chinese carmaker Jetour, a subsidiary of the Chery Holding Group, is joining the electric vehicle segment with its Ice Cream. Launched globally in July 2021, the Ice Cream EV is the fourth car under Chery’s line of small cars.

Here in the Philippines, the Ice Cream is sold under Chery’s Jetour brand. This small 3-door mini-EV might look like an oversized toy car, but it can ably sit four persons and is well suited for stop-and-go city use.

The Jetour Ice Cream has a Chery electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery pack. It produces 27 hp and 85 Nm of torque with an automatic transmission adopting a rear-wheel-drive layout. The Ice Cream EV can travel up to 170 km before needing a full charge with a top speed of 100 km/h.

This mini-EV is also the only vehicle of its type to receive support from a non-gray market importer. Jetour Auto Philippines offers a six-year/unlimited-mileage General Vehicle warranty along with an eight-year, 120,000-km battery pack warranty.

Safety features include ABS, EBD, parking sensors, and side impact beams. The brakes are discs up front with drums at the rear and suspended by MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam at the rear with 12-inch wheels and 145/70R12 tires.

Dimensions

• Length - 2890 mm
• Width - 1496 mm
• Height - 1637 mm
• Wheelbase – 1960 mm

WULING Hongguang Mini EV - ₱680,000

Manufactured by SAIC-GM-Wuling since 2020, the Hongguang Mini EV has become the best-selling electric car in China, with over a million units sold.

It’s a mini-EV, but it has seating for four persons with standard features like any normal car, which include, air conditioning, power windows, stereo system, storage, and compartments.

Power comes from an electric motor with a peak of 27 hp and 85 Nm of torque. There’s a 9.2 kWh battery capable of an NEDC range of 120 km, or a 13.8kWh battery capable of a NEDC range of 170 km. Based on the NEDC driving cycle, the estimated energy consumption of the Mini EV is 8.1 kWh/100 km.

Safety features found on the Hongguang include anti-lock brakes, tire pressure monitoring sensors, and rear parking sensors. While early models did not include a driver airbag, later models such as the Mini EV Macaron included the feature as standard.

However, without an official distributor in the Philippines yet, those who intend to purchase a Wuling Mini-EV must source it from grey market importers who offer warranties that are shorter than industry standards.

Dimensions

• Length – 2917 mm
• Width - 1493 mm
• Height – 1621mm
• Wheelbase – 1940 mm

Renault Twizzy - ₱700,000

It does have four wheels, but due to its tiny dimensions and unconventional looks, it's hard to really classify it as a car. Well, its actually an electric quadricycle as Renault prefers to call it.

The Twizzy was first released to the French market in 2012, quickly becoming the top-selling plug-in electric vehicle in Europe. This could be mainly attributed to its ultra-compact size, where it can go just about anywhere in an urban landscape.

The Renault Twizy is a 2-seater vehicle equipped with several storage spaces, including door pockets on each side and a 55-liter trunk. Its only drawbacks are its lack of air-conditioning and the optional windows which could be bothersome under the sweltering heat or in the middle of a sudden downpour.

Power comes from an electric motor delivering 17 hp and 57 Nm of torque. It may seem unimpressive, but the Twizzy only weighs 474 kg making it peppy and agile with a top speed of 80 km/h. The Renault Twizy’s range can reach up to 90 kilometers but is also dependent on driving conditions.

Here in the Philippines, it is marketed by Autoaccess, which aims to bring in a diverse range of vehicles for car buyers and is equipped with its own service center for professional after-sales services for maximum satisfaction.

Dimensions

• Length – 2338 mm
• Width – 1234 mm
• Height – 1454 mm
• Wheelbase – 1686 mm

Coming in Q4: BAW Pony Mini EV - ₱598,000 (120km Range)/ ₱678,000 (170km Range)

The BAW (Beijing Auto Works) Pony mini-EV is set to be distributed by EvoXterra (Hongqi and Weltmeister distributor) and is scheduled to arrive within the fourth quarter of this year.

Given its minuscule dimensions. box-like silhouette and pastel colors, the three-door, mini-EV BAW Pony looks more like a wind-up toy car, but it would serve as a practical daily driver for city use.

The BAW Pony has a rear-mounted electric motor that produces 27hp and 85Nm of torque, giving it a top speed of 100kph. It will be available in two battery-size options. The smaller 9.6kWh battery version will deliver 120km of range, while the 13.6kWh battery version offers 170km. The BAW Pony three-door mini-EV measures 3,162 mm long, 1,498 mm wide, and 1,585 mm tall, with a 2,050 mm wheelbase. A five-door version, which will be longer, is in the works too.

Dimensions

• Length – 3,162 mm
• Width – 1498 mm
• Height – 1585 mm
• Wheelbase – 2050 mm

Summary

Finally, the electric car industry is starting to make its presence felt as more and more car manufacturers and new players are incorporating an electric vehicle into their lineup. It seems the government is also offering some support coming from no less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself, who has approved the temporary reduction of tariffs on EVs and spare parts to 0%. This is expected to encourage motorists to consider EVs.  

Then there’s the EV Industry Development Act (EVIDA), whose goal is to boost the commercialization of electric vehicles in the Philippines, including mandating the government and companies to meet the EV 5% quota on their vehicle fleets.

Even the private sector is joining in as select shopping malls have put up charging stations. With major environmental benefits to gain and the promise of never having to fuel up at gas stations, maybe the time for electric vehicles to thrive and become prevalent starts now.