Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower) is transforming its fleet from internal combustion engine-powered into electric vehicles (EV).
The initial portion of the fleet — which will be deployed to its distribution utilities (DU) Visayan Electric, Davao Light, and Cotabato Light — are BYD commercial vehicles.
The company said that the corporate electric vehicle (EV) fleet transformation program is an expression of support to Republic Act 11697 (also known as Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act [EVIDA]) and contribution towards sustainable mobility in the country.
“As a leader in the energy industry, we want to incorporate innovations that will improve the efficiency and sustainability of our operations. The world is facing developments in climate change, global connectivity, population growth, urbanization, and digitalization, and these changes demand that businesses like ours transform to remain relevant,” AboitizPower President and CEO Manny Rubio was quoted as saying.
Historically, Rubio said, the mobility sector has been one of the highest energy-consuming sector in the country — equivalent to 31.3 percent of overall final energy consumption (more than 11 million tons of oil).
“With an ever-growing demand for powered mobility, we recognize that deeper electrification of mobility is a key enabler in achieving a cleaner and more sustainable world energy system. After all, a broad range of mobility applications can be powered with electricity from cleaner or zero-emission sources,” he said.
Meanwhile, AboitizPower Distribution Utilities COO Anton Percides said that with the newly-rolled-out initiative is eyeing to achieve 30-percent electrification for its four-wheeled vehicles and motorbikes by 2030 and reach 100 percent come 2040.
“Bound to be deployed in the franchise areas we serve in Visayas and Mindanao, with land areas more than six times the size of Metro Manila, these vehicles are geared to prove their efficiency and reliability in this new age of electric mobility,” he said.
He also said that the EV fleet program will help them experience transportation economics as the cost per kilometer traveled of the unit is at least half compared to internal combustion engine vehicles.
“Electrifying our fleet will help us further reduce carbon emissions, lower operating costs, and contribute to cleaner air in the cities where we operate. This way, we are also helping empower the evolution of the cities we serve,” Percides said.
