By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
With geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the ensuing global energy crisis accelerating the shift away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy, infrastructure remains a key component in supporting modes of mobility enabled by this new technology.
As consumers and the transportation sector warm up to electrification due to expensive gasoline and diesel, charging infrastructure that does not place a strain on the electricity grid serves as the next vital link in the transition towards sustainable transportation.
This, as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. inspected the Balanga Green Mobility Hub in Bataan on Thursday, a facility that energizes the depleted batteries of electric vehicles through a 131-kilowatt-peak solar installation and battery storage for continued operation during inclement weather.
The facility has four EV charging stations capable of charging up to eight vehicles simultaneously at a rate of P5 per kilowatt-hour. The hub is expected to serve up to 24 vehicles and 1,394 passengers daily.
Operating an electric tricycle costs only P0.45 per kilometer, compared with P3.72 for a gasoline-powered tricycle, while an electric bus costs P2.87 per kilometer to operate, compared with P26.29 for a diesel-powered bus.
Meanwhile, President Marcos Jr. vowed to expand the scope of this project nationwide in cooperation with local government units (LGUs), thus encouraging wider EV adoption and reducing public transportation costs.
“Ngayon, ito na nga ang ating ikakalat sa buong Pilipinas. Nauna lang ito pero napakaganda kasi malaki ang magiging kita—mas malaki ang magiging kita ng ating mga nagpapasada at pati na para sa ating mga commuters. Dahil siyempre ‘pag may savings, lalong-lalong na may savings sa fuel, ay nakakabawas din para sa pamasahe.”
The initiative is expected to make the transportation sector resilient to fluctuations in oil prices, which would eventually drive down expenses for drivers and operators, and translate into cheaper fares for commuters. (with report from Elijah Canlas | PTV News)
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