MOTORING CHRISTMAS EV
The season’s abuzz with transport electrification industry action
My favorite newspaper’s 37th birthday is just around the corner—Dec. 9, to be exact. I’ve been with one of the country’s most prominent print media for almost 30 of those, so, for the past few decades, the Holiday season has always been tinged with a mix of celebration and nostalgia.
This time, I’ve been curious about when I first wrote about anything related to electric vehicles (EV). With the help of our library head, we were able to dig out from the paper’s archives an article published on Aug. 19, 1999. More than 23 years ago, I wrote about the Bombardier Neighborhood Electric Vehicle, a two-seater that had its charging port behind the windshield, of all places. Full charging took eight hours, and it could run a modest 45 kph. It cost P475,000, which was really expensive for its time. Even then, price was always an issue with EVs.
Since that first article on EVs, I’ve always had my eye out for any major developments in transport electrification. And that has what led me to the valiant people behind the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP), who have worked tirelessly to make the local EV industry a force to be reckoned with. I have to mention, specifically, EVAP chair Rommel Juan, president Edmund Araga (who also helms the Asean Center for Energy and the Asian Federation of EV Associations), and chair emeritus Ferdinand Raquelsantos (who’s also president of the EV Owners Society and Philippine Parts Maker Association). They have been truly generous with their time, providing me all these decades with all the updates—and sometimes the drama—that have gone into growing the EV industry.
No doubt, many factors have accelerated the global transport industry’s transition from fossil fuels to alternative energies, foremost of which has been the climate crisis. But in our neck of the woods, EVAP has been transport electrification’s most vocal advocate. Without it, I seriously doubt if our landmark Evida (Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act) and the Crevi
Comprehensive Roadmap for the Electric Vehicle Industry) would have hit the ground running this soon and this effectively. I’m certain that, in our distant future, automotive historians will look back and see the association as the catalyst for the next important phase of Philippine mobility after the ICE era.
This is why I express my utmost appreciation that EVAP had also recently acknowledged my articles about the EV industry, formalizing it by handing me a plaque of recognition four days ago at the Hallow Ridge Golf Club in San Pedro, Laguna.
A lot of work still needs to be done, though. EVAP still faces a lot of advocating, lobbying, arguing, negotiating, and re-negotiating with the powers-thatbe. The envelope still needs more pushing, and a lot more converts need to be pulled in.
But victories need to be savored, as well. EVAP, no doubt is happy that the country’s President is about to sign the executive order implementing the tariff modification as approved by the National Economic and Development Authority
(NEDA) Board.
Here’s hoping that the EO’s effects will be immediately felt, especially on prices of EVs and their parts.
Solarius debunks grid myths
EV skeptics argue that one of the pitfalls of transport electrification would be the “overloading of the power supply grid”. What if, let’s say, mass charging of EVs takes place in one location at the same time? One specific scenario would be at a major sporting event or a concert. What if the thousands of EV owners decided to charge their cars while watching the said event? Won’t the local power grid get overloaded?
I asked this to Peter Wilson, the CEO of Solarius EV Charging during the launch of his company’s charging facilities at the Raffles & Fairmont Makati last Thursday (Nov 24).
He responded, “The only people who would need to charge at that venue are those who drove more than 200km to get there, because those who drove less than 200 km have enough range in their battery to get back home after the event has finished. So, they don’t need to charge. Realistically speaking, relatively few people attending the event will actually need to plug in. Furthermore, the charging can be done relatively slowly, since the event is going to last up to four hours, and you don’t even have to be 100-percent charged to get home.”
Wilson, a British national and a former software developer from Silicon Valley, has made the Philippines his home and his company’s HQ. Solarius EV Charging, a sister company of Solarius Energy, just announced its launch of a network of public EV charging locations, thus further reducing EV owners’ range anxiety, especially when they venture out of the cities.
Solarius EV Charging aims to establish a world-class, nationwide network of “destination EV charging locations” by way of supplying, among other solutions, solar-powered EV charging solutions for private residences and businesses.
Wilson said that he and his wife have always wanted to start a company involved in solar power in the Philippines because the country “is blessed with so much sunshine.”
With transport electrification gaining a stronger foothold in the country, Wilson saw that the time for the company to, well, shine, was now. “Transitioning the country from fossil-fuel based energy to solar energy is just a fantastic opportunity. We want to help the country transition,” he said.
Lexus is number coding exempt
It seems that tariffs aren’t the only burdensome millstones the government is shedding off the EV industry. Earlier, it was announced that the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) would officially exempt all EVs—including hybrids and plug-in hybrid EVs—from the number coding scheme. In accordance with the IRRs of the newly passed RA 11697 (Evida), the aforementioned vehicles will not be apprehended for number coding violation.
Well, at least one carmaker has made a news angle of this. “Lexus hybrid electric owners can breathe a sigh of relief...” the news release begins.
Like I said, victories—big or small—need to be savored. Robert “Bob” Shaw, VP and GM of EV of WM Motor Philippines, and a veteran in the ICE industry, said that a lot of car buyers’ faces lit up upon learning that EVs are now exempted from the number coding scheme.
EVs for all life
I wish to end this week’s EV news roundup by going back to the very reason I wanted to write about transport electrification. From a practical and environmental perspective, electrification really is the way to a better future. My heart tells me more things need to be included, though. A better life on this planet happens only when we share this precious life with all other sentient beings. And so, for just as long as I have been writing about EVs and the industry, I have also advocated for compassion and cruelty-free living (by not eating animals and sea creatures and avoiding accessories made with animal parts). With groups like EVAP having successfully ignited this change in the Philippine automotive industry, why not step things up further? Let’s promote EVs that are not just environment friendly but are devoid of animal parts. The perfect EV, I believe, is the one that not only renews energy, but respects life. All life.