Where on Earth are the EV charging stations located?

While electric vehicles (EV) have yet to make decent headway in the Philippines, several bright sparks have started organizing the support infrastructure for when they do.

Little by little, a charging network is starting to take shape here in the Philippines, spreading out station by station from Metro Manila.

In-city charging

Within the limits of Metro Manila, there are EV charging stations at most SM malls.

The first of which was at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City, followed by:

• SM Aura (Taguig City)
• SM North EDSA (Quezon City)
• SM Mall of Asia (Pasay City)
• SM Southmall (Las Pinas City)

Smaller SM malls have also followed suit, such as:

• SM Fairview (Quezon City)
• SM Valenzuela (Valenzuela City)
• SM Manila (City of Manila)
• SM Marikina (Marikina City) 
• SM San Lazaro (City of Manila) 
• SM Sta. Mesa (City of Manila) 
• SM Bicutan (Paranaque City)
• SM BF Paranaque (Paranaque City)

But SM isn't the only company to install charging stations. Other establishments include:

• Robinson’s Galleria (Quezon City) 
• Ayala Malls The 30th (Pasig City) 
• Uptown Mall (Taguig City)
• Alabang Town Center (Muntinlupa City)
• Eastwood City (Quezon City) 
• The Podium (Mandaluyong City)

The Ayala Group of Companies has likewise set up EV chargers at its offices and transportation hubs, such as Ayala One in Makati City.

Several city halls have also started providing their residents with charging stations, notably Pasig City Hall and Quezon City Hall.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority office in Pasig City offers EV charging for e-bikes and e-scooters.

Gas stations

Several gasoline stations have also started offering EV charging facilities.

Unioil has one at their EDSA Guadalupe station in Makati City and another at their Congressional Avenue Extension station in Quezon City.

Shell has also put up a pay-per-minute charging station along the northbound side of the South Luzon Expressway. In fact, Shell Mamplasan in Laguna province is one of the few EV stations outside of Metro Manila.

Out-of-town

There’s also been word of a charging station finding its way to the City of Pines.

So if you're making your way to Baguio City, you can charge up at Baguio City Technohub and SM City Baguio before heading home.

A few enterprising businessmen have likewise seen some opportunities in the EV charging market.

Solarius EV Charging has set up chargers in destinations like Raffles Makati and Awesome Hotel in San Juan, La Union. The company plans to set up 180 destination chargers across Luzon by the end of 2023.

And if EV chargers have found their way to one of the highest points in the country, then it’s safe to say that EVs will be here to stay.

Soon, we’ll get weird uncles with gold chains and cliché sunglasses asking sarcastically if EVs can even make the climb up to Baguio.

The answer is yes, tito. And maybe you should consider replacing your aging, stainless-steel jeep for one of these.