Danessa Rivera (The Philippine Star)
- February 25, 2018 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The Department
of Energy (DOE) is looking for more partners to put up charging stations to
support the country’s adoption of electric vehicles (e-vehicles) for public and
private use after getting the support of two of the largest oil players.
“The DOE supports the modernization
of public transport, the introduction of e-vehicles in public transport as well
as in private use,” DOE Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.
In putting up charging stations, the
energy chief said the country’s two largest oil companies have expressed
interest to incorporate charging stations in their respective retail networks.
“Shell already committed, Petron
also…they are very interested,” Cusi said, noting that the rollout of charging
stations is just awaiting a formal timeline for the project.
Last year, the DOE formed an Ad-Hoc
Technical Working Group (TWG) to determine the suitability of gasoline
stations, and possibly in parking areas of malls, for charging stations in
preparation for a wider adoption of e-vehicles in the country.
The lack of charging stations in
localities have been one the main issues e-vehicle players have raised in
pushing for developments in the industry.
In partnership with the Asian
Development Bank (ADB), the DOE is rolling out 3,000 electric tricycles
(e-trikes) – which was stalled due to the steep prices of units – by the middle
of this year.
BEMAC Electric Transportation
Philippines Inc. bagged the $30-million contract in 2016 to produce 3,000
e-trikes but these units have remained in the manufacturer’s warehouse because
there are no takers from local government units (LGUs) due to the steep cost –
at P450,000 per unit.
The Philippine government has then
worked with the ADB to modify the e-trike deployment, restricting it only for
LGU distribution.
Of the total number of e-trikes, the
DOE deployed 200 units to Marawi City. Apart from Marawi City, Cusi said the
agency is also looking to donate the rest of the e-trike units to the Armed
Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP) and other
eligible local government units (LGUs).
Eligible LGUs include those that
have been hit by natural or man-made disasters; those that have historical
and/or tourism significance; those that have existing ordinances supporting
electric vehicles; those that have existing electric vehicles in their
locality; those with poor air quality due to tricycle emissions; and those that
will facilitate the setup of charging infrastructure and demonstrated plan to
support the project.
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