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By Prince Golez, Manila Reporter
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Saturday, February 4, 2017
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MANILA – Sec. Alfonso Cusi of the Department of Energy (DOE) wants gasoline stations to install an electric vehicle charger.
According to Cusi, an ad hoc Technical Working Group has been formed to determine the suitability of gas stations as charging areas for electric-run vehicles.
“In preparation for the booming electric vehicle industry, I instructed the Oil Industry Management Bureau and Energy Utilization Management Bureau to issue the necessary policies that will support the development of infrastructures complementing the e-vehicle industry, such as the availability of charging in gasoline stations,” the secretary said.
The DOE is drafting a new policy template on the re-classification of gasoline stations to include the parking area, comfort rooms, closed-circuit televisions, and convenience stores, he added.
“We are exploring the possibility of the integration of an electric vehicle charging area to the existing facilities of gasoline stations.”
Citing the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 8479, or the Oil Deregulation Law, Cusi said the agency is mandated to subject all industry participants to provide suitability of facilities for their proposed operation based on existing national and accepted international standards.
DOE’s Retail Rules on Liquid Petroleum Products, aligned with the Philippine National Standards on Petroleum Products, Retail Outlets and Health, Safety and Environment, also specified that gasoline stations shall have a sales office, toilet facilities and an electrical or mechanical room.
“Apart from readying electric vehicle infrastructures, we also want to strengthen our gasoline stations’ consumer welfare and satisfaction through well-maintained and functional amenities within its premises,” Cusi said.
The Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) estimated that one million electric vehicles will hit the Philippine roads by 2020.
In 2015, about 40,000 electric vehicles – e-motorcyles, e-tricyles, e-bicycles, and e-jeepneys – were sold, said EVAP.
“The level of growth we are currently experiencing for the industry is unprecedented… We are far from one million electric vehicles but we are getting there at a faster rate and with a greater intensity,” president Rommel Juan said./PN
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