Charging stations seen multiplying with Tesla

Fueled by industry stakeholders’ commitment to accelerate nationwide electric vehicle (EV) adoption, the Department of Energy (DoE) remains optimistic about meeting its EV growth targets.

Energy Undersecretary William Fuentebella emphasized improvements in charging infrastructure, which he sees as a key enabler of EV adoption.

“We’re on track as far as charging stations are concerned,” Fuentebella said in an interview with reporters on Tuesday.

Citing the latest DoE data, he said that over a hundred charging points are already operational nationwide, with plans to add another hundred next year.

“With Tesla coming in, we’re confident that we’re meeting the targets for next year,” Fuentebella noted, adding Tesla’s plans to establish at least six Supercharging stations in the country as part of its expansion efforts.

Superchargers at BGC

Tesla officially launched its first Supercharging station on Wednesday at Uptown Mall, Bonifacio Global City.

The station features four Superchargers with a peak efficiency of 250kW, enabling Tesla vehicles to gain up to 120km of range in just five minutes.

Charging costs are competitive, with a per-kWh rate of P19; for instance, fully charging a Tesla Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive (with a 513km range) costs approximately P1,140.

“Tesla’s mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy. By building charging infrastructure around people’s lifestyles, we aim to create a seamless EV experience in the Philippines,” said Isabel Fan, Tesla’s regional director.

In addition to Tesla’s contributions, Fuentebella highlighted regulatory measures promoting the use of light electric vehicles (LEVs), such as e-bikes, to reduce dependence on internal combustion engines.

The law promotes minimal regulation of LEVs to encourage broader adoption.

Nearly 10,000 electric vehicles were sold in the first seven months of this year. The government has set an ambitious goal of achieving 50 percent EV penetration nationwide by 2040.