BYD Cars Philippines has teamed up with Grab Philippines for a feasibility study on using electric vehicles (EV) for the ride-hailing industry.
In a span of one month, six units of BYD Dolphin will be used by select Grab driver partners to roam around Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, Makati City, Pasay City, and Mandaluyong City. The initial limited coverage for the study leverages on the existing charging facilities around the aforementioned areas in the National Capital Region.
Grab Philippines shared that the pilot study is expected to help “navigate the path towards greener mobility options in digital ride-hailing, while exploring "potential cost-effective and profit-maximizing alternatives" to conventional fuel combustion-powered vehicles.
“Grab is fully dedicated to achieving carbon neutrality by 2040 and critical to this is the inclusion of low or zero-emission vehicles in our fleet. Through this pilot study, we aim to formulate strategic recommendations around the effective integration of electric vehicles in ride-hailing fleets as we proactively co-engineer a more sustainable Philippine mobility ecosystem with all transport stakeholders,” Grab Philippines Head of Mobility EJ Dela Vega was quoted as saying.
ACMobility Head of Retail and Distribution Antonio Zara III expressed confidence that the joint program shall pose as a “significant stride” towards addressing challenges surrounding the shift towards green mobility.
“The results of these end-to-end trials will help us create an ecosystem-wide approach to accelerating the adoption of sustainable mobility in our country. We are glad to be pioneering this landmark study with Grab, who share our passion for safe and efficient transportation that is friendlier to our environment,” he said.
In the Grab ESG Report 2023, the leading superapp in Southeast Asia reported that it was able to cut down ~71,000 tCO2e using low and zero-emission transport options. However, several key factors must still be considered in the shift to sustainable mobility — including charging infrastructure, public awareness and adoption, and regulatory frameworks.
Prior to being deployed, Grab partner-drivers have gone through a special training with the BYD Cars Philippines that covered understanding charging options and planning, and the notable differences between electrified and traditional fuel-powered vehicles.
They were also informed about ACMobility’s network of EV chargers, which can be easily located and accessed through the EVRO mobile app (available for download via the Google Play Store and the Apple Store).
Meanwhile, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Chairman Teofilo Guadiz conveyed the agency’s support towards the program.
“We are committed to advancing the transportation landscape of the Philippines through innovation and sustainable solutions, and this pilot marks a critical step in our efforts to explore and understand the unique opportunities and challenges associated with EV adoption in our country, and will provide us valuable insights and data to help us craft informed, inclusive, and effective policies that support and promote sustainable urban mobility while ensuring the safety and convenience of the commuting public,” Guadiz said.
“We thank Grab Philippines and ACMobility for this proactive initiative and look forward to collaborating more closely towards a greener and more sustainable future for Philippine transportation,” he added.
Photos from Grab Philippines, BYD Cars Philippines, Ruben Manahan IV
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