DOE gives the green light to accredited EV charging stations to implement charging fees

The Department of Energy (DOE) has announced that accredited Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS) are now authorized to commence charging fees. This means free EV charging stations like the ones you’ll find inside SM parking lots, can now begin to charge fees on EV owners to charge up their EVs at their charging stations. Quite a mouthful, we know.

In a statement delivered to the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP), DOE Director Patrick Aquino highlighted the current surge in interest in electric vehicles (EVs). This increased interest is driven not only by growing concerns about air pollution but also by the escalating costs of fuel in the country

Aquino expresses that this development is indeed "encouraging" for registered EVCS, as they are now permitted to institute charging fees, provided they adhere to transparent unbundled pricing structures.

The Department of Energy (DOE) outlines a range of fee options, which encompass:

• Fixed fees (a monthly or annual charge for accessing EVCS).
• Variable/consumption based fees (charging fees calculated per kilowatt-hour of electricity consumed).
• Time-based fees (charging fees based on time, whether per minute or per hour).
• Service-based fees (charging fees linked to the use of EVCS).
• Cashless payment systems.
• A combination of these methods and others as deemed appropriate.

With that said, however, free EV charging stations, along with coding-free motoring and guilt-free car ownership, were the advantages that drove people to own an EV in the first place. Taking away free public charging so soon could affect the already shaky transition Filipinos are experiencing towards EVs.

Before EVCS operators can start charging people to fill up, or should we say, charge up at their stations though, the DOE must assess the charging fee notices to ensure the comprehensive adherence to unbundled procedures. On top of that, the department is reminding all EVCS providers and operators that they are obligated to adhere to the prohibition of imposing and/or collecting fees without the DOE-approved unbundled charging fee.

Aquino further emphasized the DOE's unwavering commitment to bolstering the EV industry. In the coming month, an advisory will be issued to remind all stakeholders about the critical importance of accreditation, registration, and proper notification of unbundled fees. The implementation of the unbundled charging fee for EVCS should specify its coverage on a per-city/municipality basis. In situations where multiple cities or municipalities share common unbundling structures, a report covering the respective region(s) will be considered acceptable. 

Will this development turn Filipinos away from EVs? From our perspective, EV ownership in the Philippines still has plenty of upsides. Charging at home instead of filling up at the gas station is still the more economical option between the two, especially when we take into account rising fuel prices. Furthermore, EVs are still exempt from the Metro Manila coding scheme until 2030, allowing drivers to travel in the country any day of the week, whenever, wherever until it expires.