Because owners of the fully electric Porsche Taycan and the Audi e-tron range travel sustainably, thanks to their zero-emission cars built in carbon-neutral plants, they have qualified for certain lawful privileges.
The Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA) that was enacted into law in April, and for which the energy, transportation and trade departments have issued implementing rules and regulations in August, specify incentives which aim to promote the adoption of electric vehicles in the country.
Among these incentives, guaranteed for the next eight years, is that electric vehicles are to be prioritized in their registration and renewal of registration at the LTO. The law also provides for electric vehicles to be issued with a “special type” of plate by the LTO.
Another incentive is the exemption of electric vehicles from the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP), or number-coding scheme, implemented by the MMDA and other local government units. In a memorandum dated October 5, the MMDA acted on this provision as it cited the EVIDA’s implementing rules in ordering the agency’s traffic heads and enforcers to “refrain from apprehending and issuing UVVRP citations to electric vehicles.”
The comprehensive roadmap for the electric vehicle industry contained in EVIDA also provides for assigning parking slots to electric vehicles. New buildings, whether privately or publicly owned, which have at least 20 parking slots are required to dedicate at least 5% of these spaces exclusively for the use of electric vehicles. Public and private buildings which already exist must also comply with this requirement, but within a certain timeline to be indicated in the roadmap.
Besides guaranteeing privileges to electric vehicle users, EVIDA also grants incentives to importers and manufacturers of electric vehicles, as well as to establishments which import, build, or operate charging devices and stations. EVIDA represents the government’s goal to “promote and support innovation in clean, sustainable, and efficient energy to accelerate social progress and human development by encouraging public and private use of low emission and other alternative energy technologies,” among other objectives.
Complementing the government’s efforts are those spearheaded by the private sector. PGA Cars “FutureNow” program, for instance, has for three years now been leading the domestic automotive industry’s transition to fully electric-powered vehicles through various initiatives.
PGA Cars, official partner of Porsche, Audi, Lamborghini and Bentley in the Philippines, has already poured an initial investment of more than P300 million for the construction of facilities specifically designed for electric vehicles, as well as on specialized equipment, software and personnel training. The investment aims to help develop the infrastructure needed in promoting the Philippines’ adoption of a sustainable form of mobility which more efficiently uses energy and other resources.
PGA Cars has been offering the fully electric Porsche Taycan since early 2020, and demand for the four-door sports car has consistently increased since then. The company leveraged on this momentum and introduced the fully electric Audi e-tron SUV, e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT early this year. To date, Porsche and Audi are the only global brands to have sold in significant numbers fully electric-powered cars in the Philippines. Electrified models from Bentley have also arrived in the country, with those of Lamborghini expected to come next year. Fully electric Bentley and Lamborghini models are scheduled to be launched around 2025.
Among other measures meant to support this influx, PGA Cars is progressively installing charging facilities in key destinations to complement the residential and mobile charging solutions it provides with each electric vehicle it offers. Major property developers and energy firms have also launched their own public charging network for electric vehicles.