MANILA: Aboitiz Power Corporation begins its corporate electric vehicle transformation program by unveiling its new plug-in electric vehicles in an event at the Blue Leaf Cosmopolitan in Quezon City earlier today.

This represents Aboitiz Power's support of Republic Act 11697, also known as the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA), as well as its commitment to contribute to the country's move toward sustainable mobility.

The EVIDA requires industrial and commercial companies to have at least 5% of their fleets made up of electric vehicles in an effort to promote the use and development of electric vehicles and reduce the local transportation sector's reliance on imported fossil fuels.

“As a leader in the energy industry, we want to incorporate innovations that will improve the efficiency and sustainability of our operations. The world is facing developments in climate change, global connectivity, population growth, urbanization, and digitalization, and these changes demand that businesses like ours transform to remain relevant,” Aboitiz Power President and Chief Executive Officer Manny Rubio stated.

“The mobility sector has always had a history of being the highest energy-consuming sector in the country. In fact, the sector accounts for 31.3% of total final energy consumption with over 11 million tons of oil equivalent. Globally, it is a major contributor to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. With an ever-growing demand for powered mobility, we recognize that deeper electrification of mobility is a key enabler in achieving a cleaner and more sustainable world energy system. After all, a broad range of mobility applications can be powered with electricity from cleaner or zero-emission sources,” he added.

The electric vehicles were manufactured by BYD and will soon be used by the three key cities of Aboitiz Power Distribution Utilities (DU) — Visayan Electric, Davao Light, and Cotabato Light.

“Bound to be deployed in the franchise areas we serve in Visayas and Mindanao, with land areas more than six times the size of Metro Manila, these vehicles are geared to prove their efficiency and reliability in this new age of electric mobility. We aim to achieve 40% electrification for our four-wheeled vehicles and motorbikes by 2030 and finally transform and electrify 100% of the Aboitiz Power DU fleet by 2040,” Aboitiz Power DU Chief Operating Officer Anton Percides said.

Apart from lessening emissions, the program also helps improve energy efficiency and transportation economics, as a unit costs at least half as much to operate per kilometer as internal combustion engine vehicles do.

“Electrifying our fleet will help us further reduce carbon emissions, lower operating costs, and contribute to cleaner air in the cities where we operate. This way, we are also helping empower the evolution of the cities we serve,” Percides added.

Photos from Aboitiz Power Corporation

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