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23,500 electric vehicles to be sold this year, says EVAP
By KATHRYN MAE P. TUBADEZA, GMA News
(Updated 7:00 p.m.) The Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) on Thursday estimated that 23,500 electric vehicles (EVs) are going to be sold this year, bringing to 40,000 the number of EVs rolling on Philippine roads by the end of 2015.
The sales forecast encompasses 20,000 e-bikes and e-motorcycles, 3,000 e-trikes, and 500 e-jeepneys, EVAP president Rommel Juan said in a speech at the 4th Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit in Pasig City.
"We therefore estimate that by end of 2015, we will have a total of about close to 40,000 EVs on Philippine roads," he said.
Around 15,750 EVs were sold last year, including 15,000 e-bikes and e-motorcycles, 500 e-trikes and 250 e-jeepneys.
EVAP members sees the e-trike subsector growing by "as much as 500 percent" this year.
"The level of growth we are currently experiencing for the industry is unprecedented," Juan said, noting that the association expects to reach its target of one million EVs by 2020.
"We are far from one million EVs but we are getting there at a faster rate and with a greater intensity," he said.
Employment and savings
Employment and savings
Juan noted a "robust electric vehicle industry" can generate around 10,000 new jobs.
He said estimated savings of P1.79 billion through reduction in pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases could be realized even with just a 10 percent penetration rate in vehicular traffic by EVs.
An initial deployment of about 100,000 e-trikes will bring about "355,806 tons per year in total CO2 emissions avoided," Juan said.
EVAP is now pushing for the passage of an alternative fuel vehicles incentives bill.
"We think this will spur the development of EVs in the country," Juan said.
Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino is keeping his fingers crossed that Senate Bill No. 2151 or an act providing incentives for the mainstream use, manufacture, assembly and conversion of electric, hybrid, and other alternative fuel vehicles will be tackled on the plenary level this year.
"I'm quite hopeful that we can get it out of plenary this year, if not in the first six months of the year," he said in a speech at the event, noting that the bill is still pending at the Senate ways and means committee.
Among the provisions of the measure is a nine-year suspension of the value-added tax for buying and importing raw materials, spare parts, components, and capital equipment used in making or assembling electric, hybrid, and other clean energy vehicles.
Under the measure, such vehicles are exempted from paying the Motor Vehicle User's Charge imposed by the Land Transportation Office and from the number-coding scheme.
The bill also seeks to provide non-fiscal incentives such as priority registration and renewal of vehicles and free parking spaces in new business and commercial establishments. – VS, GMA News
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