Philippines’s EV Summit will be held in October as more car buyers are switching to electric vehicles. According to Statista, 1,013 EVs were sold in 2022, compared to 843 in 2021 and 378 in 2020. This increase can mainly be attributed to the implementation of the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA), which was enacted in May 2022.
By allocating dedicated parking slots in establishments, assigning green routes across cities and municipalities, exempting the vehicles from traffic coding schemes and offering other perks, EVIDA incentivizes EV adoption nationwide.
Public and private sectors have also been working to make charging stations more conveniently accessible to EV owners.
Edmund Araga, Presiden of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP), said, “Implementation remains a big challenge as it involves extensive output and promotion. The EV industry is still making necessary adjustments in terms of supplies and infrastructures. Transitions are on the way in terms of regulations being set by different government agencies involved.”
Araga also pointed out that the Department of Energy (DOE) is setting the pace in the government sector by rolling out programs, especially those aligned with the laws pertaining to renewable energy.
“Such initiatives are related to the development of local EV infrastructures. One I can cite is the e-App program that maps out locations of active EV charging stations across the country,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is still preparing its Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy (EVIS) and the Department of Transportation (DoTr) is keeping its focus on public utility vehicles (PUVs) modernization, with EV as the priority.
As for the private sector, it is actively investing in setting up more charging stations in strategic locations nationwide and using the latest EV charging technology. Many private companies are also taking the initiative to procure EVs for enhancing their own fleets, highlighting their efforts to lower carbon emissions and decrease energy dependency on gasoline.
These are among the highlights of the upcoming Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit (PEVS) 2023. Now in its 11th edition, the event pushing for wider EV adoption will be its biggest to date. It will be a three-day summit featuring trade exhibitions and a conference, spanning three halls of the SMX Convention Center in Pasay.
With the theme ‘Plug-In and Accelerate,’ the event will be held from October 19 to 21. It will be hosted by EVAP with the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) and in collaboration with the DOE and Nissan Philippines.
“Not to be missed is the establishment of the Philippine Battery Consortium, which will be launched during PEVS 2023. It is aimed at addressing the important concerns and issues about battery supplies and costs.” Araga said.
