Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi announced Friday the creation of a technical working group to determine the suitability of gasoline stations as charging areas for electric vehicles.
Cusi said that in preparation for the growth of the electric vehicle industry, he instructed the Oil Industry Management Bureau and Energy Utilization Management Bureau to issue the necessary policies to support the development of infrastructures complementing the e-vehicle industry, such as the availability of charging areas in gasoline stations.
“We are currently drafting a policy on the reclassification of gasoline stations according to standards which includes the parking area, comfort rooms, CCTVs and even convenience stores, among others,” Cusi said.
“We are also exploring the possibility of the integration of an electric vehicle charging area to the existing facilities of gasoline stations,” he said.
Under the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 8479 or the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act of 1998, the department is empowered to subject all industry participants to provide suitability of facilities for their proposed operation in accordance with existing national and accepted international standards.
“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 e-vehicle industry previously hit a snag after the government scrapped the $500-million loan from the Asian Development Bank due to the high cost of e-trikes.
Cusi, however, said e-trikes were still a part of the government’s e-vehicle industry and the government was looking at ways to bring down the cost.