Four electric vehicle (EV) units were turned over by the Department of Energy (DOE) and representatives from the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines to the Office of the President (OP) and the Department of Science Technology – Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD).
The OP and the DOST-PCIEERD each received two vehicles—one plug-in hybrid electric vehicle and one electric-powered vehicle. Both units will be the first of their kind to be used for demonstration and testing by any national government agencies (NGAs) in the country.
The technologically advanced vehicles are part of the first lot of equipment donated by the Japanese Government to the Philippines to help in the recovery efforts after Supertyphoon Yolanda.
Initial recipients of the next generation vehicles were Philippine National Police precincts within Region 8 and NGAs with an integral role in emergency response and rehabilitation.
Other NGAs chosen as partners of the DOE also received next generation vehicles for performance testing, research and promotional purposes.
The promotion of EV is aligned with the DOE’s E-Power Mo! Campaign with the thrust E-Safety Mo!, which supports the use of modern and safe vehicles with a smaller carbon footprint envisioned for possible nationwide use.
The DOE said the industry must ensure the operation of adequate recharging stations and after sales support if e-vehicles are to take the place of vehicles running on fossil fuels like gasoline and diesel
“The industry should be bent on continuing to improve the performance, mileage and durability of EVs, so that these vehicles develop over time both in capacity and reputation that will match and stand toe-to-toe—or wheel-to-wheel—with their petroleum-powered counterparts,” it said.
Image credits: Alysa Salen