As new electric vehicles continue to enter our market, charging infrastructure is starting to catch up. Aside from new chargers in malls and fuel stations, a recent update from the Department of Energy could require charging stations in condominiums and other private establishments as well.
According to Patrick Aquino, director of the DOE’s Energy Utilization Management Bureau, the agency is set to issue a circular within August requiring building owners to allot at least 5% of their establishment’s parking slots for EV charging stations.
The mandate will apply to both public and private buildings with at least 20 slots, and will include a detailed installation guide, especially for older establishments. The new memo rides on Section 17 of the Electric Vehicle Industry Act, which requires these regulations for establishments constructed after the Act’s effectivity.
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Aquino acknowledges that there are technical aspects to consider before the circular can be issued: “Halimbawa nga, sa mga condominium, kagaya ng binabanggit ni Secretary Sharon Garin, nahihirapan siya dahil pag luma ang building, may konsiderasyon tayo,” Aquino said in an interview with DZMM. “So ang laman ng aming circular ay kung paano yung mga ganung pagkakataon na luma yung building, paano magkakaroon ng access sa charging yung ating mga kababayan.”
He adds that part of the directive’s consideration for installing charging stations is the volume of cars in a specific location as well as the destination of said vehicles. This doesn’t just apply to Metro Manila, where most charging stations are currently located, but also to destination points across the country—both within the actual destination and along major thoroughfares.
That being said, the DOE lists that there are currently 1,844 charging locations nationwide; this number should increase quickly once the mandate is in effect. Would this new development make you more confident in owning an EV? Or would you rather stick with traditional fuel-powered vehicles for now?
