ACCELERATING the electrification of the automotive and transport sector through policy shifts, introduction of new technologies, charging infrastructure development to strengthen EV adoption advocacies to increase EV acceptance and use.
The two day 9th PH Electric Vehicle Summit (PEVS), the second one held virtually, was well attended by government policymakers, sponsored by the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) and in partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE) and car makers Nissan Philippines Inc. and Mitsubishi Motors, other sponsors include Power Equipment and Supply, Inc. (PESIN), Integrated Micro-Electronics, Inc. (MI), and Delta Electronics International (Singapore) Pte Ltd., which aligns with the national government’s goal to attain a low-carbon economy in the middle term.
PEVS is the biggest annual conference focusing on the promotion of electric vehicles in the country. It is a unique platform for policy dialogue, knowledge exchange, and best practice sharing to accelerate electro-mobility in the Philippine transport sector in support of the government’s move to a low carbon economy.
These include the Senate and the House of Representatives’ respective versions of the Electric Vehicle and Charging Stations Act, the DOE’s recently released charging infrastructure guidelines and policy, and the Land Transportation Office’s administrative order about the classification, registration, and operations of various types of EV.
“We need to step up our efforts to achieve our goals for rapid EV deployment and to do this, government and private sectors need to collectively reaffirm their commitment to do so,” said EVAP President Edmund Araga. Thus, among the highlights of the 9th PEVS is the symbolic signing of a stakeholder Memorandum of Understanding aimed at speeding up the switch to electro-mobility by the year 2025.
The first day of the online conference centered on dialogues about EV technologies and solutions. Keynotes from House Committee on Energy Chairman Juan Miguel Macapagal-Arroyo, DOE Secretary Alfonso Cusi, and Senate Committee on Energy Chairman Sherwin T. Gatchalian. An official from the UK government, which will host this year’s COP 26, will also participate in the online discussions.
The second day of PEVS will focus on the EV value chain development and market opportunities. There will be sessions about manufacturing of EVs and batteries, establishment of charging network and infrastructure across the country and feasible business models for EV adoption.
The government is also working to attain the goals of its EV Industry Roadmap (2016-2024) as set by the Department of Trade and Industry–Board on Investments (DTI-BOI). PEVS will provide more details of these developments and a platform for the various sectors to share their views on the matters.
