Unioil Philippines adds electric vehicle charging stations despite low demand

UNIOIL Petroleum Philippines, Inc. has launched on Wednesday its second electric vehicle charging station at its outlet along the northbound side of EDSA in Guadalupe in the hopes that it will encourage more drivers to switch from their fuel-powered cars.
“If you come here, it’s free charging for all electric vehicles… until the time comes that we see that there is sufficient demand,” Unioil President Kenneth C. Pundanera told reporters during the opening of the charging site.
Unioil on Nov. 27, 2017 became the first petroleum company in the Philippines to launch an e-vehicle (EV) charging facility at its fueling station along Congressional Ave. Extension in Quezon City.

“Right now, we are doing this to encourage more people to try the e-vehicles, to bring in e-vehicles. We’re also showing the government that we’re already building the infrastructure. No need to wait. We’re just waiting for the incentives for more e-vehicles to be sufficient,” Mr. Pundanera said.
Each EV charging station costs around P2.5 million to P3 million to put up.
“It’s very difficult to determine when the e-vehicles are gonna come in. It’s very difficult to determine when consumers will start accepting e-vehicles… the cost is a bit high for e-vehicles. We believe that this is the future,” Mr. Pundanera said.
Unioil’s EV charging station is equipped with the latest Chademo fast-charging protocol, which is compatible with most Japanese, US and European cars.
Even though there are no electric vehicles currently using its charging stations, Unioil is anticipating demand to spike in the future.
“We can’t say that we will only build when there are [electric] cars. Right now, what we’re doing is we’re putting first the charging facilities, showing people that it’s going to be ready — do not be afraid to buy e-vehicles. And to encourage government fast-track legislation that’s needed in order to encourage more e-vehicles to enter the Philippine market,” Mr. Pundanera said.
EXPANSION
As for Unioil’s regular fueling stations for gasoline and diesel, Mr. Pundanera said the company has a total of 61 operations outlets, mostly in Metro Manila.
He said 10 new stations are targeted to be put up this year, also in Metro Manila, Batangas and Pampanga.
“[The cost to build a station] averages from as low as P12 million to as high as P25 million,” he said, depending on the location and the size of the outlet.
Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian, Senate energy committee chairman who was a guest during the launch, said studies show that by 2025, e-vehicles will be priced the same as traditional cars. The price of lithium-ion batteries has also dropped by nearly 200% in the past six years, he added.
“It [e-vehicle] will become more affordable to the mass market,” he said. “We’re coming out with a legislation to promote the entire system of e-vehicles — from charging station, to the usage, all the way to importation and even manufacture of e-vehicles in our country.”
Mr. Gatchalian said his office is finalizing the legislation on e-vehicles, including holding another hearing to consult industry stakeholders such as representatives from car manufacturers, oil companies, gas stations, distribution utilities, and the tax agency. — Victor V. Saulon