Despite electric vehicles (EVs) already making waves as the next evolution in transportation, Filipinos are finding themselves less inclined toward the technology because of the scarcity of charging stations critical in its operations, according to a study by Deloitte.
Per the Global Automotive Consumer Study conducted by Deloitte in 2023, it shows that Filipinos, among Southeast Asian people, showed the least interest in EVs or hybrid vehicles when purchasing their next set of wheels.
In the survey, it found out that an overwhelming 72 percent of Filipino participants would still choose internal combustion engines (ICE) or those vehicles that run on either diesel or gas for an automobile purchase.
The number is substantially higher compared to its Asian neighbors where only 59 percent of Indonesians and 49 percent of Vietnamese made the same choice.
However, the waning interest appears to boil down to the lack of essential charging stations, which has been the most echoed reason among Filipino participants.
The consumer reaction goes contrary to the government’s effort in making electric vehicles more accessible to Filipinos when it removed the tariffs on completely built-up units of electric vehicles, except for the hybrid types, via Executive Order 12.
Consequently, the survey also showed that 69 percent of the Pinoy participants came with an expectation of needing to charge their EV at home for daily use, but 71 percent see themselves as unable to for not having chargers at home (26 percent) or simply could not afford to cost to have them at home (45 percent).
This article, Insufficient charging stations cause Pinoys to lose interest in EVs — study, was originally published at NoypiGeeks | Philippines Technology News, Reviews and How to’s.