The Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) remains optimistic that the country’s electric vehicle (EV) industry is on course for sustainable, innovative, and transformative growth.
At the pre-event press conference of the 13th Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit (PEVS) in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, on August 27, EVAP President Edmund Araga said EV adoption will likely continue to rise amid supportive government policies, volatile fuel prices, and the entry of more players.
“It is high time to shift to EV. There are currently more choices when it comes to EV models and brands,” he said.
Data from the Department of Energy (DOE) and EVAP showed that sales of 4-wheeled EVs nearly tripled in 2024 to 3,880 units from 1,028 in 2023. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 75 percent of sales, while hybrid EVs made up 23 percent and plug-in hybrids 2 percent.
Meanwhile, sales of 2- and 3-wheeled EVs surged 25,156 percent to 43,441 units in 2024 from just 172 in 2023, mostly Category L2 two-wheelers.
The rise in EV sales is matched by the expansion of charging stations nationwide. Under the Comprehensive Roadmap for the Electric Vehicle Industry (CREVI), it is targeted that there will be 7,300 EV charging stations (EVCS) by 2028, from 992 this year. By 2040, the target climbs to 20,400, when EVs are projected to reach at least 2.5 million units.
“The robust EV sector is hoping that the national government would remain on track to achieving improvement in necessary infrastructure, from installing more EVCS nationwide to expanding local EV manufacturing and assembly and supporting development of innovative technologies, particularly in battery. This way, we could ensure a continuous speed in EV adoption among Filipinos,” Araga said.
Promising developments include the inauguration of the country’s first lithium battery factory in Tarlac in 2024 and the proposed Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy (EVIS), which could generate P11.4 trillion in economic output and up to 680,000 jobs.
“The EV sector is unstoppable. There are more productive and insightful discussions plus a grand showcase of the latest innovations, industry collaborations, and new EV models coming at this year’s PEVS, with the theme ‘Charge Ahead, Ignite the EVolution,” Araga concluded.
This year’s PEVS is happening from October 23 to 25 at the SMX Convention Center Manila.
