Leading tobacco company PMFTC Inc. has begun to deploy 10 electric vehicles for its service fleet to service the company’s Pasig, Marikina and Rizal areas of operations in line with the company’s vision to achieve a smoke-free future.
“Our journey of transformation is naturally linked to our Sustainable Fleet initiative. Just as our ambition is to replace cigarettes with better alternatives as quickly as possible, we have a responsibility to have a net positive impact on society by reducing the environmental impact of our products, operations, and value chain. This is our commitment to become a major part of the Philippines’ shift towards electro-mobility,” said PMFTC president Denis Gorkun.
PMFTC said that as the first among mother company Philip Morris International’s affiliates to shift towards using EVs, its EV pilot program aligns with PMI’s low-carbon transition plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025 and net-zero emissions of its value-chain by 2040.
PMFTC is also the first company in the country to deploy fully electric vehicles for its salesmen.
PMFTC’s EV fleet will consist of 10 BYD T3 mini vans, which are 100-percent electric logistics vehicles with a range of 250 kilometers, with each vehicle having a carrying capacity of up to 700 kilograms in load. The vehicles will be supported by BYD’s NCR-based service center.
The EVs which minimize the fleet’s dependence on fossil fuels are expected to reduce carbon emissions by 84,954 kg. annually.
“Reducing consumption to cut greenhouse gas emissions, minimizing fossil fuel use and prioritizing nature-based solutions is us doing our part to make sure our employees, customers, and stakeholders to improve sustainability,” Gorkun said.
PMFTC targets to deploy another 10 EV units before end-2023.
The company also plans to enhance its telematics technologies to promote eco-driving behaviors and improve safety, efficiency and productivity among its fleet drivers.