By Marcelle P. Villegas
Is the Philippines coping with the global trend for green solutions in transportation? A lot of electric vehicles are out now in the international market. With this wave in green technology, the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (eVAP) organised and hosted the 7th Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit 2019. This was held last 17 - 18 July 2019 at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.
The eVAP is the Philippines’ main voice of the electric vehicle industry and for the past 7 years, they had been hosting the Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit. This year’s theme is “Modernizing the Transport Landscape: Driving Sustainable Growth”. [1]
“Infrastructure and government support to sustain the growth of the EV industry are now being set up. The 3,000 Bemac eTrikes of the Department of Energy (DOE) [which are] now being deployed nationwide are becoming more visible in various LGUs,” according to Mr Edmund Araga, EVAP President. He stated that the e-vehicle industry has become mainstream in the Philippines. He also said that more e-Jeepneys are being deployed in Metro Manila, Visayas and Mindanao regions as part of the PUV Modernization Program.
Mr Agara also noted that the program is planning to upgrade some 200,000 public utility jeepneys for the next six years with modern public utility vehicles powered by either a Euro 4-diesel engine or an electric motor. He also stated that retail financing is available for PUVMP via Landbank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) [1]
The summit featured car manufacturers like Nissan, Mitsubishi and Hyundai to showcase their electric vehicles. The summit also had technical sessions where transport officials, local government representatives, members of the academe and electric vehicle and automotive industry players were present.
During the summit, Atty. Dante Bravo, President of the Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA) emphasised the role of nickel in the growing e-vehicle industry. He said that the nickel industry is poised to supply the growing demand for nickel in lithium ion batteries that are used to provide power to electric vehicles. [2]
Mr Bravo said, “We want the nickel industry to be able to rise to the challenge of globalization, and in the process we would need a long-term strategic approach. This can be embodied through collaboration with our partner industries as well as the private, public and academic sectors. Thus, I would like to enjoin our friends in the EV sector to join us in the pursuit of an industrialised and sustainable economy.” [3]
References:
[1] Manahan IV, Ruben. (5 June 2019). “‘Green Light’ for PH EV Summit 2019”. Retrived from - Carmudi Philippines - www.carmudi.com.ph/journal/green-light-for-ph-ev-summit-2019/amp/
[2] {18 July 2019). “Briefs: Nickel, EVS moving forward together”. Daily Tribune.
[3] (19 July 2019) “Nickel Industry’s Role in Growing The EV Industry”. Philippine Nickel Industry Association website. Retrieved from - https://www.philippinenickel.org/news-and-updates/press-release/
nickel-industrys-role-in-growing-the-ev-industry/
