Powering Every Journey: Meralco moves to accelerate electric mobility in the Philippines

Three years after the passage of the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA), the Philippines is seeing more electric vehicles (EVs) on its roads — signaling growing consumer confidence and strong market momentum.

The entry of more industry players, coupled with continued government support, is accelerating the country’s transition to a cleaner and more sustainable transportation system.

The Department of Energy (DoE) reported a total of 29,715 EVs registered with the Land Transportation Office from January to July 2025, while the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) is seeing EV registrations to reach 35,000 by year-end.

Supporting this growth is the rapid expansion of charging infrastructure, which has grown by over 60 percent since last year, demonstrating that the ecosystem is catching up with rising demand.

Committed to advancing the Philippines’ shift toward sustainable mobility, Manila Electric Company (Meralco) is stepping up its role in the EV revolution, ensuring the power grid is ready, reliable, and resilient to support the expanding EV charging infrastructure essential for widespread adoption.

“Electric mobility is no longer a distant vision — it is here, it is real, and it is transforming the way we move and power our lives. Every charging station built, every vehicle electrified, and every consumer who makes the shift to electric is proof that real change is happening now. At Meralco, we are committed to igniting this EVolution by strengthening the grid, powering EV infrastructure, and electrifying our own fleet,” Meralco executive vice president and chief operating officer Ronnie L. Aperocho said in his opening message at the recent 13th Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit (PEVS).

With the theme “Charge Ahead, Ignite the Evolution,” the 13th PEVS highlighted the growing momentum of EVs as a mainstream choice for consumers and businesses.

During the summit, Meralco showcased its Electric Vehicle Adoption Program, which serves as a cornerstone of its efforts to advance electric mobility in support of a cleaner, smarter, and more energy-resilient future for Filipinos. The program is anchored on three pillars — Meralco as an Enabler through which it ensures reliable EV charging infrastructure; as a User, which entails transitioning Meralco’s own fleet to electric vehicles; and as a Player with Meralco operating commercial charging stations and forging strategic partnerships with key industry players to expand EV adoption nationwide.

Meralco also showcased home and commercial EV charging solutions, along with innovative energy technologies designed to make EV ownership more practical and convenient for customers.

Taking it a step further, Meralco’s strategic push to boost consumer confidence in EV adoption follows a three-pronged approach: Awareness, Adoption, and Acceleration. Through this framework, the company educates consumers and collaborates with stakeholders to build a thriving EV ecosystem.

“In Awareness, we begin by helping customers understand the different benefits of EVs — from cost savings to environmental impact. Here, we aim to spark interest and curiosity about the electric future,” Meralco vice president and head of Commercial Strategy Management and Energy Solutions and One Meralco EV Adoption Program manager Ralph M. Menchavez said.

“In Adoption: We then empower households and businesses to make the switch, by providing practical, reliable, and future-ready EV charging solutions that make the transition to electric mobility seamless,” he said.

Beyond these initiatives, Meralco also offers practical energy solution bundles such as the Peak/Off-Peak Program that offer lower electricity rates for customers who charge during off-peak hours, helping them save on electricity costs. Meanwhile, Net Metering allows EV owners to power their vehicles using renewable energy and even export excess electricity back to the grid. To give customers greater flexibility, Meralco also offers prepaid electricity options, providing convenience and control over energy use.

As an Enabler of the green mobility transition, Meralco is powering the majority of the charging infrastructure in the country to help build public confidence in EV adoption.

Expanding charging infrastructure is critical in driving EV market share. As more consumers look to shift to EVs, the question of where they can charge becomes the biggest barrier to adoption. Accessible, reliable, and widespread charging stations are essential to give consumers confidence that owning an EV is practical and convenient.

Fortunately, strong foundations are already in place, backed by the government’s consistent support for the industry through key policies and legislation. EVIDA mandates that at least 5 percent of parking spaces in establishments be reserved for EVs and requires distribution utilities (DUs) like Meralco to incorporate EV charging infrastructure demand into their development plans.

The Comprehensive Roadmap for the Electric Vehicle Industry (CREVI) sets ambitious targets, including 7,300 EV charging stations by 2028, signaling DoE’s commitment to widespread adoption.

Meanwhile, the DoE’s Charging Infrastructure Development Plan (CIDP) streamlines EV charging station service applications and also aligns charging demand with the DU’s plans.

Meralco fully supports these policies. In fact, the company has enabled and powered over 700 EV charging points within its franchise area, accounting for 70 percent of the national total, and with more on the way.

Through its Green Mobility Program, Meralco is leading by example, with 7 percent of its fleet already electrified and on track to reach 25 percent electrification by 2030. This transition has already cut over 160 tons of CO₂ emissions and saved nearly P5 million in fuel costs.

Meralco plans to seek regulatory approval to expand its EV charging network for its fleet, with the intention of eventually offering the chargers to the public as a Charge Point Operator.

This approach creates a positive feedback loop: fleet electrification drives infrastructure growth, which boosts visibility and accessibility, ultimately increasing consumer confidence and accelerating EV adoption nationwide.

Driving momentum through partnerships

Collaboration is also key to driving a new industry forward — from government policy and private sector innovation to consumer adoption and infrastructure development, it takes a united ecosystem to power the transition to electric mobility.

During the 13th PEVS, Aperocho underscored the importance of collaboration among policymakers, innovators, and industry leaders to advance e-mobility beyond infrastructure — through sound policies, public awareness and unified action.

“This is why Meralco continues to support emerging technologies, bridge barriers and foster industry collaboration in platforms like the Philippine EV Summit, which unites policymakers, innovators, and industry leaders to colle ctively drive adoption and accelerate the country’s transition to electric mobility,” Aperocho said.

This commitment to collaboration extends beyond local partnerships, as Meralco forges alliances with global leaders to bring world-class expertise and technology to the Philippine EV market.

One notable example of Meralco’s partnership efforts is its memorandum of understanding with V-Green Global Charging Station Development Corporation (V-Green) and Green and Smart Mobility Joint Stock Company (Green GSM) — Vietnam’s leading firms in the EV industry for charging infrastructure and green mobility, respectively, under Vingroup — aimed at driving the rollout of EV infrastructure systems in Metro Manila and other key cities.

This collaboration with V-Green and Green GSM reflects a shared commitment to sustainable mobility that aims to transform the future of transportation in the Philippines.

The partnership, according to Meralco chairman and chief executive officer Manuel V. Pangilinan, brings together “collective strength in infrastructure, technology, and experience that will redefine our cities and our communities.”

“We are committed to helping build this ecosystem — one that is future-ready, inclusive, and grounded in service. We want Filipinos to experience the future of transport, not just in Metro Manila, but across the archipelago," he said. “Together, we intend to reframe the way we think about energy, transport, and sustainability.”

This agreement is one of several strategic collaborations Meralco is pursuing to accelerate electric mobility adoption in the Philippines, highlighting its broader vision of creating a sustainable transport ecosystem.

Through its various initiatives and partnerships, Meralco’s message is clear: it is not just powering homes and businesses — it is powering the future of mobility. By enabling infrastructure, catalyzing consumer confidence, electrifying fleets, and forging strategic partnerships, it is ready to power EVery journey toward a cleaner, more sustainable transport future for the country.