Note: NEVs refer to “New Energy Vehicles” – hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrids (PHEV), battery electric vehicles (BEV or Full EVs), and fuel-cell cars
I remember when I first had a full EV test unit, charging was still free. I miss those good times when I can use fast charging without burning a hole in my pocket. There were also fewer NEVs on the road and so mall charging is very much available any time of the day.
Earlier this month I had an EV test unit again after a long time – the new BYD eMAX 7. The landscape has definitely changed because aside from fast charging not being free anymore, public charging has become a challenge. Everyone is vying for the free charging slots in malls while those that are paid remain vacant. I even saw on Facebook that there are EV owners annoyed with Plug-in Hybrid owners. For them, PHEV owners should just charge at home so that full EVs can charge in the malls since they do not have an alternative means of running the car.
The thought is elitist but also valid. So instead of fighting with NEV owners, I talked to some of them to understand their perspective. I also talked to a brand executive regarding the needs of NEV chargers.
Slow portable chargers
Most NEVs sold today come with a portable charger. The problem is it’s a lot slower than the standard charger found in malls. In my BYD’s case, the charger is only at 2.5kW while mall charging is at 7kW. This disparity is huge in terms of charging time for an EV. I was able to gain 20% in 2 hours of charging in an SM mall. That’s still faster than the 8 hours (for also 20%) it took me to charge a previous EV unit at home using that car’s portable charger. But that 20% can already get you around town and back to your home where you can charge. So why bother plugging up at the mall?
No wall chargers at home
Many brands in the market offer a free Wall Charger for every unit sold. This charges the car at the same 7kW standard as in the malls. However, some owners do not avail this for a few reasons. First is their living situation. Many car owners are renting and so they cannot just install a wall charger in the house they’re living in. Some are more complicated as they live in a condominium where there’s no outlets in the parking spaces and it’s really impossible to have a wall charger installed in your parking slot.
Second is the shock from the price. While the chargers are free, installation is not. Add to that the cost of materials needed depending on the design of the garage and the house’s wiring system. There are also brands who require DOE certifications for the installers. This means you can’t just ask your neighborhood electrician to install the wall chargers as it will affect the warranty. Dealerships have their own recommendations though but not every dealership has the same price. In the end, it all adds up to the upfront cost of the car.
Wiring standard
The portable chargers also have an issue with many houses here in the country. Some of these portable chargers come with a 3-prong plug that has a dedicated grounding pin. You cannot just use a 3 to 2 adapter and have it plugged in your house that only has a 2-prong outlet. The charger and car will be able to detect it and will not allow charging. The solution requires a grounded wire from the main electrical breaker to the target outlet. Doing that is easier said than done and would mainly depend on the house’s internal wiring path. But for those who do not care about aesthetics, it’s pretty easy to do if you know a qualified electrician.
Charging Price
The last reason is the price. It’s understandable that fast charging is hefty. ACMobility and Shell have their fast charging at PHP 35 pesos while Petron is at PHP 25 pesos. The gripe of some owners is the price of standard charging in public chargers. Why would they pay around PHP 28 pesos for 7kW charging when they can have it in some places for free?
The combination of these situations resulted in the race for the free charging slots in malls – and they’re loving it. It doesn’t matter to mall owners if they only have a few slots, they know the owners of these NEVs are spending money in their malls while charging.
Archaic government officials used to say we only need one more lane in order to alleviate traffic. This is why there was a time that road widening projects were the trend in Metro Manila. Surprise, surprise, it didn’t alleviate traffic. In the case of chargers, will “one more slot” fix this NEV woe? There will surely be more chargers in the future. Hopefully they’re beyond leisure places and built on places of work, business districts, and residential areas.
I think the immediate fix for now is rectifying the outlook towards NEVs. If you’ve already bought one, you must accept that you must make (costly) changes in your living situation in order to fully accommodate it. The mall is not your charging station. For the PHEV owners, you can opt for fuel in order to run your car. That’s why the engine is there. If you wanted total electric mobility, then you should have saved up for a battery EV and didn’t settle for a PHEV. EV owners should also have a Wall Charger at home. You already got it for free, make the necessary spending to install it. Imagine running to the mall to charge your phone because you do not want to charge at home. That’s how dumb all of you are.
If you’re still on the fence, or yet to sign papers, I hope I helped you open your eyes wider on the accompanying cost of an NEV. The charging network of the Philippines is still not ripe compared to the number of NEV offerings in the market and so home charging is crucial for everyday driving. You can opt for an HEV for worry free travelling, or get a PHEV granted you will make modifications in your home to accommodate domestic charging. Otherwise, we are just looping the problem back to square one.
