DTI, EVAP map out plan for e-vehicle industry

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) have mapped out a more aggressive plan for the local electric vehicle industry, targeting the roll out of some 6,000 units of these environment friendly vehicles over the next three years.

The DTI and EVAP, following their year-end meeting, said they formulated development plans for the domestic electric vehicle industry for the coming years.

The local industry would target to roll out 5,000 electric tricycles and 1,000 electric jeepneys over the next three years.

To support this initiative, Juan said financing of the electric vehicle ecosystems and access to green credit lines were discussed by financial institutions such as the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and Landbank.

In addition, Juan said an electric vehicle working group was formed as a sub-cluster of the automotive industry technical working group.

The electric vehicle working group was formed together with representatives from EVAP, DTI, Department of Science and Technology, DBP, and Landbank.

“We are confident that with the government’s support, we can push for our electric vehicle advocacy even more and go full blast in our campaign to modernize mass public transport with eco-friendly e-jeepneys and e-trikes,” Juan said.

Juan said other important issues discussed by the electric vehicle working group included non-fiscal incentives, electric vehicle registration guidelines by the Land Transportation Office, motor vehicle inspection system as applied to electric vehicles, local and national franchises for electric vehicles and the development of standards for electric vehicles, parts and components and testing.

“We also took up government support for the advancement of electric vehicle technology, research and development, and the human resources needed to support the electric vehicle industry. We really need to be ready to take the industry to the next level thus from among us, we assigned roles for each member of the electric vehicle working group to do to ensure the implementation of the action plans formulated,” Juan said.