High-power cost slows develop of e-vehicle sector

MANILA, Philippines - The high cost of electricity in the Philippines has not only burdened residential and commercial power consumers but has likewise slowed down the development of the local electric vehicle industry, the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) said.

 “In other countries the price of electricity doesn’t really matter with electric vehicles because they have a lot of incentives. Here it is important because we use it for public transport,” EVAP president Rommel Juan said.

EVAP said charging from electrical consumption is the main expense for any electric vehicle.

As such, the use of a vehicle which requires electricity to function may find it hard to reach its full potential in a country considered as having one of the most expensive electricity rates in the world.

Juan said a standard electric jeepney consumes about 22 kilowatt-hours (kwh) of power on an overnight full charge and the distance it travels is about 80 kilometers.

With electricity at P10 per kwh, he said the per kilometer cost of running an electric jeepney is estimated at P2.75, lower compared to the cost of running diesel jeepney at about P4.50 per kilometer.

EVAP, however, believes the use of electric vehicles for public transport in the country can even be more attractive as electricity rates go lower.

With power distributor Meralco already dropping its monthly rates for the fifth consecutive month now, EVAP said not only will commercial and residential consumers benefit from this but the electric vehicle industry as well.

 “Today, the disparity is not that big anymore as the prices of petroleum have also gone down in recent years, but for how long? We all know that oil prices will eventually go up as this scarce resource eventually dries up. In fact, this is already happening,” Juan said.

 “With electricity, you have more clean sources such as geothermal, hydro and solar. We believe that in the long run, electric vehicles will more than justify its value in terms of economy, efficiency and environmental value,” he added.

Juan said more areas are now going toward the electric vehicles path such as Filinvest City in Alabang, Makati City, Muntinlupa City and even universities with sprawling campuses such as Ateneo and De La Salle.

 “We hope that even more establishments will join the electric vehicle revolution,” he said.