The government is laying down the groundwork for the shift of public utility vehicles (PUV) into electric while building the ecosystem for an EV industry that is homegrown and not relying on imports.
“Our goal is to shift to EV that is locally manufactured. That would spur industrialization and full development of the industry. If we just shift to EV through importation, then we will go back to a situation where we are dependent on imports,” said Ceferino Rodolfo, undersecretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and managing head of the Board of Investments.
In a press conference over the weekend, Rodolfo expressed hope shift to EVs will not be limited to private use of electric passenger cars and (PCs) sport utility vehicles (SUVs).
“The challenge is really the price consideration. PUVs can jumpstart manufacturing of EVs because the demand is there and we can aggregate. The EV Summit last week showcased mostly imported PCs and SUVs and not PUVs. While the (introduction) of these vehicles will definitely lead to the shift to EVs, we hope the PUVs will be developed in tandem,” Rodolfo said.
He said the BOI is trying to provide the manufacturing solution to the issue of PUV modernization.
“This can provide jobs for Filipinos. This is a unique opportunity as demand is here. It would be better if we support locally made, with more sectors benefitting. This way, we can complete the ecosystem,” Rodolfo said.
Liberty deluna, president of the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO), said the potential market for the EVs stands at 50,000 units for electric tricycles but around 20,000 units have since joined the modernization program since 2017.
Deluna said these units can shift from diesel to electric in a few years, but a lot of yet to modernize.
ACTO is composed of 400 smaller driver groups for jeepneys, UV Express, tricycles, multi-cabs plus 150 operators groups all over the country.
“We support the use of EVs for public transportation as this will lead to savings for operators and drivers,” said Deluna as she expressed hope member-drivers and operators can be educated more on the use of EVs.
Deluna also cited the need to build battery charging stations in parking lots or terminals.
