MANILA, Philippines—Even if the country were on the brink of a power shortage, there will still be enough electricity to supply the additional requirements that will stem from the possible proliferation of electric vehicles (EVs) in the future, a ranking power industry executive has said.
Manila Electric Co. senior vice president and chief operating officer Oscar Reyes said that within the company’s franchise area, power supply should not be a problem, even with the foreseen mainstream use of EVs.
“The requirements could be much bigger, although I don’t have the details right now, but we should be able to accommodate any (additional) requirements for charging electric vehicles within our franchise area,” he told reporters.
“We will ensure that we have the capacity. That’s why we’re working with different generators for continued bilateral contracts, aside from building our own capacity,” he added.
The power distributor is now in the process of putting up a separate power generation company that aims to provide it with more stable and affordable supply of electricity.
Meralco president and chief executive Manuel Pangilinan earlier expressed support for the launch of EVs into the mainstream, committing to provide funding for the EV program.
He did not specify up to how much the company would be willing to shell out, however, saying only that the Worldwide Fund for Nature-Philippines, through its chair Vincent Perez, had asked for P5 million.
But Meralco Energy Inc. president Jesus Francisco said it would not be that simple for Meralco to roll out facilities that would support the EV program as Meralco was a regulated entity.
“It’s difficult for Meralco to commit assets that will figure in its rate base without getting the approval of the Energy Regulatory Commission, since Meralco is a regulated entity. Nevertheless, I will still try to convince Meralco that setting up charging stations (for EVs) is necessary,” he said.
Francisco was Meralco president until end-January 2009. The company he headed now, Meralco energy solutions arm MEI, was now working with the University of the Philippines College of Engineering in the development of a technically and economically viable electric tricycle.
Manila Electric Co. senior vice president and chief operating officer Oscar Reyes said that within the company’s franchise area, power supply should not be a problem, even with the foreseen mainstream use of EVs.
“The requirements could be much bigger, although I don’t have the details right now, but we should be able to accommodate any (additional) requirements for charging electric vehicles within our franchise area,” he told reporters.
“We will ensure that we have the capacity. That’s why we’re working with different generators for continued bilateral contracts, aside from building our own capacity,” he added.
The power distributor is now in the process of putting up a separate power generation company that aims to provide it with more stable and affordable supply of electricity.
Meralco president and chief executive Manuel Pangilinan earlier expressed support for the launch of EVs into the mainstream, committing to provide funding for the EV program.
He did not specify up to how much the company would be willing to shell out, however, saying only that the Worldwide Fund for Nature-Philippines, through its chair Vincent Perez, had asked for P5 million.
But Meralco Energy Inc. president Jesus Francisco said it would not be that simple for Meralco to roll out facilities that would support the EV program as Meralco was a regulated entity.
“It’s difficult for Meralco to commit assets that will figure in its rate base without getting the approval of the Energy Regulatory Commission, since Meralco is a regulated entity. Nevertheless, I will still try to convince Meralco that setting up charging stations (for EVs) is necessary,” he said.
Francisco was Meralco president until end-January 2009. The company he headed now, Meralco energy solutions arm MEI, was now working with the University of the Philippines College of Engineering in the development of a technically and economically viable electric tricycle.
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