Pre-departure Insights for Going Global | When Fuel Costs More Than Meals, Filipinos Discover There’s Hardly a Second EV Charging Station in Sight

Manila resident Arselon used to drive a gasoline-powered car, spending ₱8,000 monthly on fuel. After fuel prices doubled—from over ₱30 per liter at the start of the year to ₱70 by March this year—he decided to switch to an electric vehicle (EV). Now, he spends only a few hundred pesos per month on charging. “After driving all day, I still have 50–60% battery left when I get home,” he told the media. “Many friends around me are asking how to switch to EVs.” This is not an isolated case. In Q1 2026, EV sales in the Philippines surged 36% year-on-year, with approximately 11,800 electrified vehicles sold in a single quarter—accounting for 11.17% of total new vehicle sales. This share would have been nearly unimaginable two years ago. Pure EV sales doubled year-on-year, while plug-in hybrid and hybrid models skyrocketed nearly ninefold. Dealership showrooms are packed; popular models are out of stock, with long waiting lists. Yet real-world user experience falls far short of these rosy sales figures. I. Savings on Fuel Are Eaten Up by Time Loss Glennford, a Manila-based ride-hailing driver, ran the numbers: although EVs cost only a fraction per kilometer compared to gasoline cars, “when the battery runs low, I have to stop and wait for several hours—nothing like the speed of refueling.” For drivers who rely on ride-hailing income, time lost to slow charging is crippling. Spending two or three extra hours daily charging means forfeiting orders—and wiping out all fuel savings. Slow charging is the main culprit. Many public charging stations across the Philippines still operate in slow-charging mode, requiring several hours for a full recharge. While fast chargers exist, they’re extremely scarce—just 290 DC fast chargers must serve more than 10,000 newly registered EVs. A Filipino blogger shared a real-life experience on social media: returning to Manila from out of town, he headed straight to Ayala Mall to charge—only to find all spots occupied, mostly by plug-in hybrids. He rushed to a BYD authorized dealership instead—but its charging speed was only half that of the mall, adding another 30 minutes to his wait. Scenes like this are becoming increasingly common across Manila. II. 900 Chargers Cannot Power a Nation’s Electric Dream The Philippines’ EV roadmap is not lacking in top-level design. From the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA) to the recently signed Executive Order establishing the Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy (EVIS) under President Marcos, total incentives amount to up to ₱60 billion (approx. USD 974 million). According to the government’s roadmap, 7,300 charging stations should be built by 2028. Yet this vision remains strikingly skeletal: as of today, only about 900 charging points nationwide are stably operational—with slow chargers accounting for as high as 74%. Nearly 12% of all public chargers are concentrated within the mall networks of SM, Ayala, and Megaworld, heavily skewed toward Metro Manila. Outside the capital region—in cities like Cebu and Davao—charging infrastructure remains scarce, with only a handful of stations available. (SM Supermalls charging station) In fact, the lag in charger deployment stems not from lack of will, but from two major real-world constraints: ■ A labyrinthine compliance process: Although the EVIDA law offers benefits such as zero tariffs on EV imports, implementation remains arduous. Establishing a single charging station requires certification from the Department of Energy, local government business permits, zoning approvals, and lengthy equipment import clearance (BPS certification). An official from the Department of Energy admitted that approval delays alone can postpone project commencement by at least six months.

Retail Ban Lifted! The 4:6 Equity Model Emerges as the Key Lever to Unlock the Philippine EV Market

Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have pushed up global oil prices, accelerating the worldwide energy transition—and Southeast Asia’s EV sector has seized a window of rapid growth. The Philippine EV market has thus entered an explosive expansion phase. The Philippines’ updated Foreign Investment Negative List has officially taken effect, significantly relaxing foreign ownership rules in the retail sector. The implementation of the 4:6 joint-venture equity structure has fully opened a compliant pathway for foreign investors to enter the local EV retail market—becoming a pivotal breakthrough for industry development. This equity framework satisfies local regulatory requirements while leveraging local shareholders’ resources to broaden financing channels—directly addressing Filipino consumers’ strong demand for installment-based vehicle purchases—and comprehensively energizing retail market vitality. I. Market Momentum Rises: EV Sales Surge Sharply Policy tailwinds combined with surging demand have propelled robust growth in the Philippine automotive consumer market as of March 2026. According to data from the Philippine Association of Automobile and Truck Manufacturers, national vehicle sales exceeded 39,000 units that month, with EV sales reaching 6,148 units—a doubling of monthly volume from the previous period. EV market share climbed from the historical average of 7.4% to 17.03%, triggering deep structural shifts across the industry. Japanese legacy automakers continue to dominate overall domestic vehicle sales, yet EV market share is expanding rapidly—fundamentally reshaping competitive dynamics. Chinese EV brands, backed by mature technology and strong value-for-money propositions, are steadily deepening their foothold in the Philippine market. Multiple favorable factors are jointly expanding the market: persistently high fuel prices have made EVs’ lower operating costs increasingly compelling; growing public awareness of green mobility is steadily boosting EV purchase intent. Local governments have enacted the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act, complemented by policies including consumption tax exemptions, exemption from urban traffic restrictions, and mandatory EV charging infrastructure in parking facilities—effectively alleviating range anxiety among users. The newly introduced 4:6 joint-venture model unlocks financial empowerment, aligning closely with consumer needs and propelling the Philippine EV industry into a high-growth cycle. II. Policy Optimization: Industry Operating Thresholds Significantly Lowered 1. Retail Entry Rules Adjusted—Greater Flexibility for Foreign Investors The 13th edition of the Philippines’ Foreign Investment Negative List has been updated, bringing major revisions to investment rules in the retail sector—directly transforming the pre-existing landscape for foreign participation in EV retail. Previously, foreign investors had only two options for entering local retail: either fully own a business with paid-in capital exceeding USD 500,000; or, if registered capital fell below PHP 25 million, the enterprise had to be 100% locally owned. The newly revised Retail Trade Liberalization Act introduces a third channel—joint ventures. For retail enterprises with paid-in capital below PHP 25 million, foreign investors may now hold up to 40% equity, with local stakeholders retaining 60% ownership.

High Gasoline Prices Drive EV Sales Surge in the Philippines

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Surging gasoline prices in the Philippines have triggered a 130% annual increase in electric vehicle registrations, now comprising nearly a quarter of all passenger car sales. Major automakers like BYD report record deliveries amid government incentives to reduce fuel dependency.

reuters

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BYD Exports Jump as Soaring Fuel Prices Spur EV Demand

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High Gasoline Prices Drive EV Sales Surge in the Philippines

High Gasoline Prices Drive EV Sales Surge in the Philippines

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