Charging facilities in gas stations studied

THE Department of Energy (DoE) has stepped up plans to build safe and dependable charging stations for electric vehicles with a study that will look into the viability of locating them in existing gasoline stations.

“We want the TWG [technical working group] to study the technical viability of the infrastructure, evaluate its safe operations by assessing the necessary protocols and standards, and to determine required policies and its supporting legal basis,” said Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi in a statement on Tuesday.

He said the DoE was in the process of drafting a circular for the policy guidelines in the “overall development and increased utilization of alternative fuels and energy technologies, which includes the e-vehicle industry.”

Mr. Cusi said the technical team must make recommendations in supporting e-vehicle charging stations and related infrastructures, including other possible locations such as malls and other business establishments. He said safety and accessibility were major considerations on where to put up e-vehicle charging stations.

The technical working group was created to determine the suitability of gasoline stations as charging areas for e-vehicles, an emerging mode of transportation amid the drive towards cleaner technology.

“I have to stress that this venture should be in compliance with existing environmental, safety and other relevant rules and regulations,” Mr. Cusi said.

He said that apart from increasing public awareness, the department was also coordinating with other agencies to “create an environment for the equitable and non-discriminatory access for alternative fuels and energy technologies with preference for indigenous ones.” —