THE lack of policies on EVs with less than 4 wheels and the retrofitting from internal combustion engines to electric motors and batteries are seen as two important points in the acceleration of the development of electric vehicle market in the ASEAN region.
This was the conclusion of the policy dialogue led by the ASEAN Center for Energy (ACE) and the Asian Federation of EV Associations (AFEV) held at the 10th Philippine EV Summit at the SMX Convention Center Mall of Asia in Pasay City last October 21. The event, supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has become part of the agency’s global advocacy to promote the shift to electric mobility in low- and middle-income countries.
UNEP’s studies on transport in Africa, Asia and parts of Latin America conclude that electric vehicle mobility based on motorcycles and three wheelers is key to transport systems in these continents. For example, in many parts of Africa and in Asia, gasoline powered motorcycles and three-wheelers go daily distances of up to 100 kilometers with transporting passengers and goods. One study mentions that these vehicles are very often based on outdated engine technologies rendering them energy inefficient, or use like two-stroke engines, which are pollutive. This trend is the same in the Philippines where tricycles, especially in the provinces still use smoky, oil-burning two stroke engines.
The study concludes that the electrification of two and three wheelers “constitutes a significant potential for greenhouse gas and air pollutant emission mitigation in the region.”
The UN Environment program is supporting seventeen countries to develop national roadmaps and conduct pilots for the introduction of electric two and three wheelers in Africa, South-East Asia and Latin America. The recent cooperation with the ACE and AFEV puts into perspective the rapid changes needed in the region to meet the ASEAN Climate Change targets of 2050 as well as the UN Sustainable Development Goal No.13 on climate change, both of which are already in place.
Focusing on the acceleration of the EV market and industry in the region, Edmund Araga, president of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines underscored the crucial role that two and three wheelers play in e-mobility in the ASEAN.
“In most developing countries, the two and three wheel electric vehicles have the the greatest potential for EV adoption as well as the opportunity to grow the EV industry in the region. This is why there must be clear policies on its use and distribution, as well as its place in the mobility ecosystem of the region,” Araga said at the opening of the dialogue and the first of two sessions to tackle the issues at hand.
The first session discussed the situation of electric two and three wheelers in ASEAN with respect to market and policy. Dr. Manny Biona, Executive Director of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines presented an overview on state of play on electric two and three-wheelers in the region. The panel discussed the need to craft a policy with regard to technical regulations and standards with the respective ASEAN member countries as well as their harmonization at the regional level.
The second session centered on the conversion of ICE powered vehicles to electric. Countries like Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines already have companies that can retrofit EV powertrains replacing ICE powerplants. EV conversion initiatives in Thailand an interesting case study, where vehicle models for EV conversion are the pick-up trucks and the more than 10-year-old vehicles which are around 3.5 million units.
Krisda Utamote, President of Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand presented the challenges and opportunities for conversion in the case of Thailand. Thailand’s national target to achieve 30 percent Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) usage or around 225,000 units per year in 2025 is challenging. Despite of the market needs, certain BEV models are not yet available, especially for pickup trucks. There are 40 million registered vehicles in Thailand.
The Thai government, through the state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) plans to develop more electric vehicles by modifying used cars. Thai authorities are also in the process of allowing converted vehicles to be registered. EVAP is also advocating for a similar policy on EV conversion to accelerate the adoption of electromobility in the Philippines.
Led by Araga, joining the panel discussions were Septia Buntara Supendi, Manager for Sustainable Energy, Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Conservation ASEAN Center for Energy; Dr Yossapong Laoonual, Honorary Chairman Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand; Krisda Utamote, President of Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand; Dato Dennis Chuah, President of Electric Vehicle Association of Malaysia.
June Yeonju Jeong, Program Officer, Sustainable Mobility Unit UN Environment Program presented UNEP’s Global Electric Mobility Programme that supports more than 50 low-and-middle-income countries with the shift from fossil fuel to electric vehicles. In the Philippines, a demonstration project on electric two and three-wheeler for freight deliveries was implemented with Pasig City LGU and the Philippine Postal Office as project recipients.
Septia Buntara Supendi, Manager for Sustainable Energy, Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Conservation of the ASEAN Center Energy (ACE) presented the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) Phase II: 2021- 2025, Programme Area No 4: Energy Efficiency & Conservation.
The aim of this program is to reduce energy intensity by 32 percent by 2025 and encourage EE&C efforts, especially in transport and industry. ACE sees potential collaboration with AEFVA in EV integration in five key areas: cooperation on the promotion of harmonized EV standards and technologies; networking within the regions and member associations to promote joint ventures/collaboration of business entities; sharing of best practices and information about the industry; extending support and active participation in member associations’ initiatives and projects; facilitating student exchanges and university cooperation within the region.
Martin Knoss, Power Train Solutions Regional President for the ASEAN of Robert Bosch Automotive, shared the company’s EV technologies and how it is cooperating with companies in the region.
