MANDAUE CITY, Cebu — The Department of Energy (DOE) is strengthening safety and emergency-response preparedness as more Filipino motorists shift to electric vehicles (EVs).
In a statement, the DOE said 66,685 EVs were sold in the first eight months of the year, accounting for nearly one in every four vehicles sold. The figure indicates that more Filipinos are turning to cleaner mobility options while reducing their reliance on conventional fuels.
The sales included 20,716 hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), 29,649 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and 16,320 battery electric vehicles (BEVs).
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The DOE said EV sales accounted for 24.7 percent of the 270,124 total vehicles sold during the same period.
“As electric mobility gains ground in the Philippine transport market, the Department of Energy (DOE) is strengthening safety and emergency-response preparedness to ensure that the country’s rapidly growing EV fleet is supported by safe charging, responsible vehicle use, and trained first responders,” the DOE said.
For Energy Secretary Garin, these figures show that a broader range of electric mobility choices are becoming available to Filipinos.
“As adoption increases, our responsibility is to make sure that the infrastructure, policies, and safety capabilities needed to support these vehicles keep pace,” Garin said.
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EV adoption in PH
According to the DOE, the country’s broader EV ecosystem is also expanding alongside the growing adoption of electric vehicles.
The number of DOE-recognized EV models reached 949 by the end of August, up by 67 from the previous month, while registered EV charging stations nationwide rose to 1,876.
“The expansion supports the objectives of the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA) and the Comprehensive Roadmap for the Electric Vehicle Industry (CREVI), including the Clean Energy Scenario target of a 50-percent EV fleet share by 2040,” the agency said.
It added that the national government is working to develop the domestic EV industry through the Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy (EVIS), mandated under Executive Order No. 121. The EO provides up to P60 billion in performance-based fiscal support for qualified investments in EVs and related industries.
“The President’s vision is to make electric mobility a mainstream part of our transport system — reducing our dependence on imported fuel, lowering transport costs over time, and creating opportunities for investment, manufacturing, and jobs,” Garin said.
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Safety preparedness
Alongside measures to expand EV adoption and infrastructure, the DOE and its industry partners are also working to strengthen safety preparedness among motorists and emergency responders. These efforts cover safe EV use and charging, battery care, high-voltage electrical hazards, and appropriate emergency response procedures.
“The growth of electric mobility must go hand in hand with safety. Drivers need to know how to charge and operate EVs properly, while our first responders must be equipped to act safely and effectively during emergencies. These capabilities are essential to building public confidence in electric mobility,” Garin said.