Enough EV charging stations raising users’ confidence

The number of charging stations for electric vehicle (EV) continue to increase despite EV users preferring to charge at home especially for short trips.

ASEAN Federation of Electric Vehicle Associations (AFEVA) president Edmund Araga said the groundwork for EV infrastructure was completed ahead of the passage of the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA), followed by the issuance of regulations by the Department of Energy (DOE).

Araga said, “The number of charger ports is rolled out and increasing with quite a number of location sites were visible in public locations such as malls, parking areas and other gasoline stations, not only in Metro Manila but in other key cities from Visayas and Mindanao.”

The rising number of EV dealers also helps address EV users’ concern over driving range.

According to Ferdinand Raquelsantos, chairman-emeritus of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP), the current setup is sufficient given how EVs are typically used in the country.

He said there is a need to expand infrastructure outside urban centers, particularly for vehicles with shorter driving ranges.

“There are a lot of models that can go back and forth to Baguio on a single charge, mainly with the help of a regenerative braking system, where as you slow down or press on your brakes, it charges your batteries,” he said.

Raquelsantos believes the country has enough charging stations. “Our EV application in the Philippines is not the same as other countries where the proximity of travel is quite far,” he added.

“In Metro Manila, you probably spend about 50 kilometers [km] average of travel per day. And with 400 km range on your EV, you practically charge only at home.”

He said around 95% of EV owners rely on home charging, while those without access, such as condominium residents, typically charge at offices or malls.

Despite this, gaps remain. In a separate briefing last February, BYD Philippines and Denza Philippines head Adam Hu cited charging infrastructure as a key industry-wide challenge, particularly for consumers without home charging options.

DOE has pushed for wider adoption of charging stations, issuing a circular in October last year encouraging establishments to install chargers and directing distribution utilities to integrate EV infrastructure into their plans.

Under the government’s Comprehensive Roadmap for the Electric Vehicle Industry (CREVI), around 7,300 charging stations are targeted nationwide by 2028.

EV adoption continues to gain ground. Data from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) showed that electrified vehicles accounted for 8.64% of total industry sales in February, with 3,098 units sold.

This was up 18.7% from January and significantly higher than the 1,816 units recorded a year earlier.

Hybrid EVs remain the dominant segment at 2,479 units, while battery electric vehicle sales rose to 340 units from 261 in January. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles reached 279 units from 277.

Raquelsantos said the EV market has moved beyond its early stages, with more reliable models now available across major manufacturing countries.

“The quality and reliability are there whether the US, China, Korea, Japan…There are new models equipped with solid-state batteries that need only around 15 minutes to have the ideal state of charge,” he said.

Araga emphasized the importance of after-sales support in sustaining consumer confidence. “After-sales is the key… a wide array of dealers has to be in place to sustain trust and confidence of the consumers,” he said.

Recently, spiraling fuel price increases have driven interest in EVs, according to industry players, but adoption is also being supported by broader factors, including lower operating and maintenance costs.

Araga said providing consumers with more mobility options is key to sustaining the shift. “It is something that is not already a myth or just merely a fad but rather a more practical way to make use of an EV as their next mobility,” he said.

Raquelsantos expects growth to continue even if fuel prices stabilize, citing long-term savings. “Change oil and tune up…would also increase in their charges, which pure EVs does not have,” he said. “Electricity is much cheaper than fuel. And there are households now with renewable energy…that will benefit much if they have EVs.”