In the know: Available EV options in PH

Filipinos are slowly adapting to electric vehicles (EV). While many motorists somewhat had second thoughts about driving new energy vehicles (NEV) a few years back, many car owners are becoming open to owning a battery-powered automobile.

Interested to see what your options are? Then join us as we check out the available EV options in the country, and how one can tell which is which.

Hybrid

Alright, first let’s talk about hybrid vehicles since these are the most common among the EV offerings we see in the local automotive scene.

Hybrid vehicles are cars that still use internal combustion engines (ICE) but are fitted with small batteries and electric motors that help power the vehicles during specific driving conditions.

Most of the time, the hybrid vehicle's ICE delivers power when running at high speeds or when taking on steep and hilly thoroughfares. The battery-propelled electric motor, on the other hand, handles situations where less power is required.

In addition, the battery of the electric motor battery fitted in hybrid vehicles are commonly charged through regenerative braking. On that note, hybrid vehicles are a popular choice for early adopters as these do not require special infrastructures.

Samples of available hybrid vehicles in the Philippines include the Toyota Corolla Cross and Camry.

PHEV

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) are fairly similar to the abovementioned hybrid cars but on top of regenerative braking, the battery or the electric motor can be charged by plugging the vehicle onto an external power source.

This makes for a more versatile way of partly achieving emissions-free driving.

The Mitsubishi Outlander is an example of a PHEV in the country.

BEV

Battery-electric vehicles are a different game altogether. These cars do away with the ICE and use only electricity to propel the vehicle.

These automobiles typically have two motors (one at the front and the other at the rear) to propel the vehicle. The absence of an engine and a transmission system is beneficial to BEV users as the space dedicated for the aforementioned components can be used as storage compartments.

Additionally, most BEV models also act as a large power bank on wheels, thanks to a vehicle-to-load (V2L) feature that allows them to power other compatible electrical equipment.

Some good examples of BEV models being retailed in the country are the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6.

Final thoughts

EV models in general have gained quite the traction in the local automotive scene. Today, EV are not only offered by premium and established car brands but are also sold by up-and-coming Chinese companies that are slapping a much more affordable sticker price on their products.

Further, the continuous abundance of EV charging stations reassure those who are using EV — and those who are planning to — that they have made the right choice.

Even the government is doing its part in pushing EVs with the passing of the EVIDA law that grants certain benefits to those choosing to drive a more eco-friendly means of transportation.

Photos from Ruben Manahan IV, Juan Paulo Papa, and Toyota Motor Philippines

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