DoE fires up EV as fuel costs soar

Policies and guidelines for all stakeholders must be in place to attract the necessary investment and effectively integrate EV and charging stations

The Department of Energy (DoE) will aggressively push for the use of electric vehicles (EV) as part of initial measures to mitigate the impact of skyrocketing prices of fuel stemming from the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said the agency will pursue the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA) which is now in the bicameral conference committee.

Cusi said government support will help the local EV industry thrive even amid the pandemic.

“Policies and guidelines for all stakeholders must be in place to attract the necessary investment and effectively integrate EV and charging stations in a robust and sustainable energy system,” Cusi said.

The energy chief added that the DoE is pursuing the project of deploying 20,000 imported EV and putting up 5,000 charging station for the next five years.

Cusi said this project cut fuel use by over 145 million liters or equivalent to nearly P8 billion fuel costs or more with the ever rising cost of oil products.

Being reviewed by the committee are provisions on the installation of charging stations in dedicated parking slots and in gas stations.

Charging stations have been a sticking point in the swift progress in the use of e vehicles.

Under the bill, both the owners of the building and the gasoline station may have the option to install, operate or maintain a charging station in their premises or allow a charging station service provider to do so.

The Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) had sought help in the crafting of a government policy that will provide incentives for the growth of electric vehicles.

EVAP president Edmund Araga said the pandemic slowed down the growth of the local EV industry.

Much rests on EVIDA

“We are hopeful about the passing of the EVIDA. The Senate’s and the House of representatives’ versions of the Electric Vehicle and Charging Stations Act have been approved,” Araga said.

The group is also calling for the charging infrastructure guidelines and policy by the DoE to motivate, through perks, the putting up and adoption charging stations.

Low-cost charging for EV is seen as one of the factors to encourage motorists to purchase EV, a recent study by Frost & Sullivan said.