Rethinking the Electric Future: A Filipino Perspective on the EV Debate


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A few years ago, I would have sworn that electric vehicles (EVs) were on track to dominate our roads. Their promise of zero emissions, smooth driving, and lower operating costs made a lot of people—including me—believe that the days of the internal combustion engine were numbered. Yet, if you pay close attention to the latest news from the world’s biggest automakers, you might notice a different story unfolding. Some major players, like Toyota and Honda, seem to be holding back on fully embracing electric cars and are instead directing more resources toward cleaner gasoline engines and hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Why the sudden hesitation? One main issue is that building EVs requires a steady supply of expensive raw materials like lithium and cobalt. These minerals can be hard to get, prices can swing wildly, and companies don’t want to be left scrambling for essential parts if something disrupts the global supply chain. On top of this, developing EVs isn’t cheap. Car manufacturers have spent decades perfecting gasoline engines, so any major shift in design and production means huge expenses for research, development, and retooling.

But there’s another, less obvious reason why carmakers and dealers aren’t rushing to fill their showrooms with EVs: maintenance, or the lack of it. Electric cars do not require oil changes, spark plug replacements, and other routine servicing that gasoline cars need. This translates to fewer trips to the dealership or repair shop and, therefore, less income for these businesses. Most, if not all, of a dealership’s profits come from after-sales service. If you’ve just invested in a fancy repair bay and a team of skilled mechanics, the prospect of fewer repairs can seem like a threat to your bottom line.

The most popular EV in the United States, the Tesla Model 3.

Meanwhile, the rising star in the EV world right now is China. Brands like BYD are giving bigger names a run for their money by offering cheaper electric cars. They’re able to do this because their battery manufacturing is highly developed, they have well-established supply chains, and labor costs tend to be lower. Some folks might question the reliability of these Chinese brands, but let’s not forget they’re improving at a rapid pace. BYD’s latest Blade Battery, for instance, is not only affordable but also boasts improved safety and durability.

So, what does all this mean for us here in the Philippines, where electric cars are just starting to grab attention? On one hand, we see big players shifting focus away from pure EVs, which could result in fewer models hitting our market. On the other, Chinese automakers like BYD could step in to fill the gap, offering cheaper electric vehicles that might tempt more Filipinos to go electric sooner rather than later.

But there are still some bumps on the road to widespread EV adoption here. Our charging infrastructure is in its early stages, and charging stations are mostly found in big cities like Metro Manila. That can cause serious worries for people who live outside these areas or who frequently travel long distances. There’s also the question of resale value. If major brands produce fewer electric models, will that affect how easily you can sell your EV down the line?

Personally, I believe hydrogen fuel cell vehicles could shake things up even more, if they ever become mainstream. Hydrogen-powered cars can be refilled about as fast as a regular gas car, solving the range anxiety that EV owners know too well. However, the biggest hurdle is that hydrogen refueling stations are almost non-existent in most parts of the world—much more so here in the Philippines.

One of the top-selling electric cars in town today, the BYD Seal.

So, if you’re thinking about buying an electric car, should you jump on the trend now or wait a few more years for the technology to mature? It depends on your priorities. If you value lower monthly costs, have a reliable place to charge, and don’t mind that there’s still a limited number of fast chargers in the country, going electric today can be rewarding—especially with new, lower-priced EVs from Chinese manufacturers. Plus, if you’re stuck in city traffic every day, the advantages of an electric car—silent operation, instant torque, and zero emissions—are hard to beat.

However, if you’re worried about the charging network’s slow growth or the long-term support for electric vehicles, it may be better to hold off. Hydrogen cars and cleaner gasoline or hybrid cars are gaining ground, and who knows what breakthroughs might be around the corner? Large automakers like Toyota are focusing on making gasoline engines more fuel-efficient and less polluting, which means the traditional car still has some life in it.

At the end of the day, Filipino consumers need to weigh the pros and cons carefully. Electric vehicles do offer a glimpse of a cleaner, more cost-effective future, but the technology is moving in many different directions—hydrogen, hybrids, advanced gasoline engines, and even synthetic fuels. For now, I’d say keep an eye on developments and think hard about your driving needs. The perfect time to go electric might be today if you’re ready and well-prepared. But if you still have doubts, it could pay off to wait a little while longer to see whether hydrogen or a new generation of cheaper, better EVs arrives on the scene. Either way, it’s an exciting time to be a car enthusiast, and I’m looking forward to seeing how this all plays out in the Philippine market.

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Anjo Perez