DOE pushes rollout of e-vehicle roadmap

The Department of Energy (DOE) is pushing the faster rollout and use of electric vehicles (EVs) in the country via a roadmap supporting the industry’s growth in the next two decades.

Under the Comprehensive Roadmap for the Electric Vehicle Industry (CREVI), the DOE wants to raise the rollout of EVs in the country to 10 percent from the original five percent mandated under Republic Act 11697 or the Electric Vehicle Industry Act (EVIDA).

The EV rollout under the clean energy scenario would be increased to 50 percent by 2040.

“This is seen to drive the commercial scale rollout of EVs in the country faster and broader,“the DOE said.

Under the short-term period or from 2023 to 2028, the energy department is targeting the rollout of 2.45 million EVs comprising of cars, tricycles, motorcycles, and buses plying nationwide, while 65,000 EV charging stations would be installed nationwide.

The DOE will push for additional 1.85 million EVs and 42,000 EV charging stations in the medium-term or from 2029 to 2034 and another two million

EVs and 40,000 EV charging stations in the long-term period from 2034 to 2040.

The DOE expects to attract more investments once the CREVI is approved.

To support these targets, the DOE has also drafted EV-related department circulars such as the guidelines for the accreditation of EV charging stations (EVCs), the unbundling of the EVCs fee and the recognition and adoption of EV standard classification on road transport for incentive eligibility.

These actions, according to the DOE, are consistent with EVIDA’s thrust of creating an enabling environment for the development of the EV industry in the country.

“The shift to EVs is expected to reduce the country’s dependence on imported fuel and to promote cleaner and energy efficient transport technologies,” it said.

The DOE is also conducting a series of nationwide public consultations for the CREVI and the three department circulars next week.