Electric vehicle (EV) owners should be able to drive around with confidence, even in the Philippines.

That is how Chris Ward, head of the official importer and distributor of Jaguar and Land Rover in the Philippines, feels about the country’s support for larger EVs like cars.

In an exclusive interview with AutoFun Philippines, Ward said he is expecting the Philippines to move faster in following global trends in electrification.

“Get the infrastructure started so people have not got range anxiety,” the Coventry Motors Corporation president said. “There is no need for range anxiety even today, to be honest. So the Philippine market, I think, has to catch up. It's started, but it's gotta ramp up its pace, which I think it will do in the next three-to-five years.”

Ward added that more must be done in boosting public confidence in EVs.

“As far as the transition goes, I think it's a slow one, five-to-10 years,” he said. “But for sure, the Philippine market will steadily see more and more hybrid and electric cars introduced and a reduction in internal-combustion engines, be it petrol or diesel.”

New law beefs up EV support

Republic Act 11697 or the “Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act” provides a legal framework for EVs.

The measure lapsed into law on Apr. 15, 2022, under then-President Rodrigo Duterte, with the implementing rules and regulations coming into effect on Sept. 20, 2022.

R.A. 11697 also enacts the enacts the Comprehensive Roadmap for the Electric Vehicle Industry, which will develop four aspects of the EV sector:

• EVs and charging stations

• Manufacturing

• Research and development

• Human-resource development

In terms of incentives, the government now offers EV owners exemptions from the number-coding scheme and discounts for the motor vehicle user's charge, vehicle registration and inspection fees until April 2030.

But unlike EV laws in other countries, R.A. 11697 does not yet offer government subsidies and tax perks for buying EVs, except for completely built units that are imported.

The law also mandates significant changes in infrastructure for EVs, including the construction of dedicated EV parking slots and charging stations in all new public and private establishments. Buildings that will be renovated must also comply with EV parking requirements.

Electrification from the top-down

Ward said he expects a rapid increase in the introduction of high-end EVs in the Philippines, especially from Jaguar and Land Rover.

“If I look at our program, we're fairly aggressive in the next three-to-five years and other premium brands will follow suit for sure,” he said.

“Once there is a level of confidence there, then we'll start to see an increase in the more mid-section SUVs and such,” Ward added. “They will then start to come off and then we'll see it migrate down to the more general day-to-day vehicles.”

CMC launched its first-ever EV in the Philppines, the Jaguar I-PACE, on July 2020. AutoFun Philippines content head Mikko David tested the PhP 7.69-million sport-utility vehicle in Tagaytay with Ward.

It comes with a 90 kWh battery pack powering two motors to produce 400 PS and 696 Nm of torque, which is distributed to all four wheels. This means 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds and a range of up to 400 kilometers.

Ward said buyers of the I-PACE have a clear understanding of its innovative technology.

“Those customers who have chosen to engage with it have had their eyes opened,” he said. “When you drive the car, it's just a game-changer. And when you start looking at the benefits and the negatives of petrol and diesel, whichever ticks and crosses you put in, an all-electric car ticks every single box.”

Do you agree with Chris Ward on the future of EVs in the Philippines?