Going green! AboitizPower chooses BYD T3 EVs to be part of its fleet

Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower) officially launched its corporate electric vehicle (EV) fleet transformation program on Aug. 31, 2023 by presenting its new battery EVs.

The launch kickstarts its support for Republic Act 11697 or the "Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act" (EVIDA) and its contribution towards greener and cleaner mobility in the country.

Industrial and commercial companies, public transport operators and government agencies will be required to have fleets that are at least 5 percent EV.

The law aims to transition these sectors to become fully electric.

Also read: 8 out of 10 registered EVs in the PH are E-bikes, scooters and trikes; EVIDA inclusion pushed

What is AboitizPower?

AboitizPower is currently the largest and most diversified renewable energy platform in the Philippines in terms of installed capacity under its operational control.

The company has nearly 1,000 MW of renewable energy projects, including wind and solar farms. It also has hydroelectric and geothermal facilities, along with thermal power plants to meet the country’s baseload and peak energy demands.

AboitizPower has high-growth distribution utilities in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, including the country’s second-largest and third-largest private utilities.

Meet the new EVs in the fleet

As part of its support for EVIDA, AboitizPower will transition 5 percent of its fleet to EVs.

These new BYD T3 vans will be deployed to three critical AboitizPower distribution-utility cities, specifically Visayan Electric, Davao Light and Cotabato Light.

“As a leader in the energy industry, we want to incorporate innovations that will improve the efficiency and sustainability of our operations," said AboitizPower President and CEO Manny Rubio.

"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,” he added.

Aside from the reduction of emissions, AboitizPower said the new EVs also contribute to the company’s bottom line of improved energy efficiency and transportation economics as the cost per kilometer traveled of a unit is at least half compared to internal combustion engine vehicles. 

The power company aims to transition its fleet to 30 percent EVs (cars and motorcycles included) by 2030 and by 2040 have its fleet 100% transitioned into electric vehicles. 

Greener and greener

Rubio said the mobility sector has long been the highest energy-consuming sector in the Philippines, accounting for 31.3 percent of total final energy consumption, equating to over 11 million tons of oil.

“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," he said.

"After all, a broad range of mobility applications can be powered with electricity from cleaner or zero-emission sources,” Rubio added.

This reinforces Aboitiz Power’s growth strategy of adding 3,700 MW of renewable energy — like solar, wind and geothermal — to its generation portfolio in the next 10 years.

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AutoFun Philippines Senior Writer VJ Bacungan contributed to this story.