If there’s one obvious takeaway from the mind-boggling Nolan classic, Interstellar, that would be the thought that time is relevant. While the veracity of the science fiction film is still arguable at this point, the relativity actually applies to the automotive industry.
More and more countries have their present set at electrification. That is especially true in Western countries where sales of EVs continue to rise in annual terms. If you’re talking about the “now” of these nations, you’re talking about EVs.
The Philippines, on the other hand, is still looking at charging their cars as a spectacle of the future. There are many factors involved – most of them I’ve written about in the past, but I digress. At least now, the supposed EV bill has already passed into law. All we need to do now is wait for the inevitable future to happen.
PGA Cars, the distributor of Porsche and Audi in the Philippines, isn’t waiting any further and leads the charge to an electric future by launching its “FutureNow” program.
Luxury EVs leading the charge
PGA Cars has been selling the Taycan since 2020 and according to the company, the demand for the electric sedan has been steadily increasing since then.
To support the said demand for luxury EVs, PGA Cars has also added three of the e-tron range earlier this year. These are the Audi e-tron SUV, e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT. The company touts that “Porsche and Audi are the only global brands to have sold in any relevant number of fully electric-powered vehicles in the Philippines” to date.
All PGA Cars EVs – namely Taycan, e-tron SUV, e-tron GT, and RS e-tron GT – come with multiple charging options, a very essential part of EV ownership.
A portable charging system that can be plugged in either at home or on a three-phase industrial outlet. These cars also come with AC charging units that can be installed at home (akin to installing air-conditioners).
Meanwhile, a high-powered DC charging system for both Porsche and Audi is available at PGA Cars showrooms on EDSA Greenhills.
FutureNow isn’t just about selling EVs
The FutureNow program isn’t just about the luxury EVs at the front line. Beyond the current charging equipment available with the cars and in PGA Cars showrooms, FutureNow also involves an initial investment of over P300 million.
The investment has many uses. It will be used for the construction of facilities that are designed to address the requirements and safety standards of EVs. Manufacturer-approved equipment, tools, and software, along with specialized personnel training for EVs, are all part of the expenditure.
Through the FutureNow project, PGA Cars aims to build an ecosystem for EVs in the country. The charging stations won’t be limited to households; the company is currently in negotiation with mall owners, property developers, and fuel companies to set up (or planning to set up) public charging stations.
Finally, PGA Cars is also involved in setting up a carbon-neutral community and processes for its operations. Dubbed the micro carbon sink, which is a natural or man-made reservoir, the company aims to “absorb an amount of carbon dioxide nearly equal to that emitted during its operations.”
The first phase of this micro carbon sink program involves PGA Cars transplanting full-grown trees in the vicinity of its main showrooms. That’s just a start, and we’re waging there’s more to just improving aesthetics within the area.