Filipinos keen to get NEV, most prefer hybrid-tech powered

MANILA: Many Filipinos are already considering getting an electrified vehicle within the next 12 months, a Ford Motor Company-commissioned study showed.

Based on the multi-market research conducted by Escalent last April-May, many of the respondents said that “if cost was not an issue”, they would prefer a hybrid vehicle. Second and third choices were a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle and battery electric vehicle, respectively.

Here are the results of the study.

Respondents in the Philippines classified new energy vehicles (NEV) as “fun to drive”, “cool”, “sporty”, and even “easy to own”. More than 49 percent of them noted that they already rode an electric vehicle — with 33 percent claimed to have used one.

In addition, more than 70 percent of respondents in the country said owning an electric vehicle in the Philippines is practical.

Most of the respondents agreed that they would be “more likely” to choose an electric vehicle to provide delivery services or ride sharing, and that they would prefer an electric vehicle for their daily commute.

Majority of the Filipino respondents noted they wanted electrified vehicles to deliver a longer driving range and reduced maintenance costs.

The same study also showed that the main benefit of having an electric vehicle is saving money on not buying fuel while its highest perceived disadvantage is that its maintenance cost in the long run.

Moreover, more than half of those who had the survey said that they would be “more likely” to date someone who drove an electric vehicle. 81 percent said they would choose an EV to make a good first impression on someone.

Also, according to 39 percent of respondents, the biggest challenge on electric vehicle ownership in the Philippines is infrastructure related.

Nearly half of all the Filipino respondents are unaware of any charging stations within 20 kilometers of their homes, concurring that there are as many charging stations as service stations.

Many Filipinos also believe that a service station is a key location for charging sites, followed by a supermarket or shopping center and then a park or recreation facility.

Nearly 85 percent of respondents said they would be “more likely” to purchase an electric vehicle with “greater” towing capacity, while 85 percent are looking for their first electric vehicle to be off-road capable.

However, there are still misconceptions that surround NEV usage. For instance, also half of respondents believe charging an electric vehicle at home is as expensive as filling up a gasoline vehicle.

Ford wants to leverage its iconic models like the Mustang Mach-E, E-Transit and Ranger PHEV. In addition to offering electrified versions of its most popular vehicles, the company is harnessing electrification to deliver more of what customers love about them: performance, capability and productivity.

Aside from the Philippines, the survey was also conducted, covering 1,470 people in Australia, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and United Arab Emirates.

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