THERE’S AN ELECTRIC CAR IN YOUR FUTURE
If you plan to continue driving in the next 10 to 15 years, chances are that there is an electric vehicle (EV) in your future.
It will be a self-charging hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) or a battery electric vehicle (BEV), a.k.a. fully electric vehicle.
At present, the Philippines is entering the HEV era, the first phase of the transition to electric mobility, marked by market leader Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation’s (TMP) launch of the 2020 Corolla HEV compact sedan last September 09.
The hybrid 1.8-liter Corolla Altis, priced at P1,580,000 is imported CBU (completely built unit), just like the Toyota Prius, the hybrid compact sedan that TMP began selling in 2009, and the 2019 model of which costs P2,249,000.
The Corolla Altis HEV has a lower price point than the Prius because it is made in Thailand, while the Prius, like the P1.91-million Prius C (“City”) subcompact hatchback, is made in Japan.
The ASEAN Free Trade Agreement has lowered the import duties on made-inthailand cars like the Corolla HEV to only 5 percent, compared to the 30 percent tax on cars (with engine displacement of less than 3.0 liter) imported CBU from Japan.
The only other mass market HEV offered locally at present is the Hyundai Ioniq 1.6liter 6DCT (6-speed Dual Clutch Transmission) compact hatchback that is selling for P1,498,000.
Lexus Manila, the premium car division of Toyota, has six HEVS in its lineup: Lexus GS 450h, NX 300h, RX 450 h, CT 200h, CT 200h F Sport, and LS 500h.
BYD Philippines is the first car distributor to offer a PHEV, the BYD Tang midsize SUV. Managed by Solar Transport, BYD PH is the exclusive distributor of the Chinese brand in the country.
BYD (Build Your Dreams) began in China as a producer of batteries, but soon ventured into EVS. BYD is now recognized worldwide as the biggest and most advanced manufacturer of EVS, so much so that major global automakers like Toyota Motor Corporation have formed partnerships with them.
BYD no longer manufactures HEVS and only uses lithium ion phosphate batteries which they claim are safer, more stable, and have a longer life cycle than nickel metal hydride batteries.
The BYD Tang PHEV costs P3,328,000, but it comes with a portable 1.3kw onboard charger that can be plugged into any 220 volt socket. The Tang packs 500 hp and averages 50 km per liter.
Meanwhile, on October 7, 2019, Volvo Philippines officially launched the country’s first luxury PHEVS: the Volvo XC60 SUV, Volvo S90 Estate, and the midsize Volvo XC90 SUV, each of which has a T8 Twin Engine delivering 400 hp.
HARI is the only distributor selling a BEV in Manila at present–two BEV models, in fact. Aside from the Hyundai Ioniq Electric compact hatchback (P2,048,000), HARI offers the Hyundai Kona Electric subcompact SUV (P2,388,000). Both are available on indent order.
The Kona Electric was named “Best in Electric Vehicles” by the 2019 Wards Auto Competition, 2019 Edmunds Editor’s Choice Awards, Car and Driver, and other organizations.
Although at present there are only 19 EV charging stations in Manila, and our country lags behind other ASEAN like Thailand where EVS are already being manufactured, the efforts of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines and the government’s ECO-PUV program to develop the EV industry deserve our encouragement and support.
In 2018, 1.7 million EVS were sold worldwide and by 2025, EVS will account for 40% of all new vehicle sales globally, up from about 1% in 2016. The transition to electric mobility has begun.
Zero noise, zero emissions, zero vibrations, and instant power not only make driving less exhausting, especially in traffic, but also benefit many sectors of society such as public health, transportation, the environment, and renewable energy. (reprinted with permission from AQ Magazine)