E-VEHICLES may help in lowering vehicle smoke emissions but deployment and use of such technology will still depend on the consumers as well as the private company partners.
Department of Energy (DOE) undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said a lot needs to be considered related to e-vehicles including the charging stations and who the private partners could be.
"We are also tapping the gasoline stations in a way to look into these technologies how they can merge. If it's not possible, because technically, these are two different things, we can still consider," said Fuentebella adding there would be instances where charging stations need to be separated from gasoline stations.
However, he added other support systems that needed to be considered are battery exchanges and the use of lubricants and oils that may still be catered to by the gasoline companies.
Currently the e-vehicle is still on its testing stages and has yet to have the final timeline for establishment.
DOE had already deployed a pilot charging station in their main office in Taguig City, which they look forward for possibility of replicating in public places such as restaurant and mall's parking spaces once the demand of the technology has also increased.
Fast charging of e-vehicles may take 30 minutes, with full charging of about 2-4 hours.
"What the DOE wants is for us to prepare for these emerging technologies. So whether we like it or not, they will come in. It is also the directive of Sec. Cusi to have consumer empowerment. We have to introduce all these," he said.
He added a number of e-vehicles had been distributed to different vital government agencies that may support e-vehicles including the Department of Transportation, Department of Science and Technology, and DOE.