DOE seeks more partners for e-vehicle charging stations

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 set up of charging infrastructure and demonstrated plan to support the project.