The first electric vehicle charging station in Pangasinan was opened at SM City Urdaneta Central here on Friday, bringing the city one step closer to promoting green energy in support of the National Renewable Energy Program, according to the Department of Energy (DOE). ‘The neighboring countries like Singapore are already into banning combustible energy. We have to be at par with them. Of course, this project is also part of promoting the clean energy advocacy program,’ DOE Luzon field office director Renante Sevilla said in an interview. He said the e-vehicle industry is already penetrating the country with a 10-percent capacity. Sevilla said the technologies of the e-vehicles being introduced in the country were from China, Europe and the United States. ‘We have already published the lists of accredited e-vehicles, including the brands,’ he said. Sevilla commended the initiative of SM Green Movement in putting up a charging station together with Panthera, which provided the technology and equipment at the
station. ‘We will be coordinating with them (dealers and companies) to support the programs of the government (in terms of renewable energy). One of the challenges, however, will be the infrastructure,’ he said in relation to the possible rise of e-vehicles all over the province and the lack of sufficient charging stations later on. He added the DOE Luzon is coming up with a comprehensive roadmap for the e-vehicle industry that will serve as a guide on how to further promote and utilize the green energy. Meanwhile, SM City Urdaneta Central Mall manager Abraham Malicdem said this project is the company’s way of supporting the National Renewable Energy Program of the government. ‘There are two chargers at the station which will be free of charge for one year and then after a year, we will revisit the program. We are into pushing green practices of private enterprises nationwide,’ he said. E-vehicle owners may avail of the free charging of their cars by getting the quick response code and registering their names
for a maximum of two hours per car on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Malicdem said the other SM Malls in Dagupan City and Rosales town will soon open their e-vehicle charging stations as well. ‘We will add more chargers later on depending on the need(s) of the motorists,’ he added.
Source: Philippines News Agency