Electric Vehicles (EVs) may be the future in
the Philippines, but in modern cities around the world, they are already a
reality and an integral part of mainstream transport. During an EV Summit
earlier this year, the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (eVAP)
projected that there would be at least a million EVs in Philippine roads by
2020.
One
company had been silently working for the last two years to make all these
plans feasible and taking concrete steps to make reliable EVs available in the
Philippines. BEET Philippines Inc., a subsidiary of BEMAC-Uzushio Electric
Company of Japan, who holds the number one share for marine electric equipment
of large ship construction undertaking more than 5,000 vessels worldwide. With
headquarters in Imabari City, Japan and employing more than 1,500 employees, BEMAC-Uzushio
Electric has partnered with Almazora Motors Corporation (AMC) to bring to the
Philippine market a well-designed and technologically advanced EV. BEMAC’s commitment
to safety and excellent after-sales support program, together with AMC’s more
than 100 years of experience in bringing quality crafted automotive body and
parts, guarantee EVs that will bring pride to the Philippine EV manufacturing
sector.
Last week, BEMAC Group President and CEO Masato Oda visited Manila
and met officials of Department of Energy (DOE) including Secretary Carlos
Jericho L. Petilla and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Usec. Adrian S.
Cristobal who is also the Managing Head of Board of Investments (BOI) to
introduce BEMAC’s first three-wheeled EV. This is to prove that BEMAC is now
ready for mass production and not just prototyping. BEMAC’s commitment to
productivity will breathe new life into Philippine EV industry, improve driver
lifestyles and more importantly, contribute to environmental conservation.
“Before the year ends, our plant in Carmona
(Cavite) would be producing 500 units a month. This is just half of its maximum
production capacity of 1,000 units per month,” added Yvonne Palomar-Castro,
BEET AVP for Sales, Marketing and Operations, in an earlier interview. “We are
serious and passionate about EVs. We have partnered with one of the best
electric motor companies in the world and the best lithium ion battery supplier.
We want to make sure that our products are well suited to Philippine road
conditions, from the heat of summer to the floods of the rainy season,” Ms.
Castro added.
What sets BEMAC apart from
the other EV manufacturers in the country is that BEMAC has been conducting
Research & Development on EVs for the last 16 years. In 2003, Japan’s
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) awarded
BEMAC-Uzushio certification to manufacture EV’s making them Gifu City 1st
automotive manufacturer.
“Our unit is now LTO compliant and can be
registered and insured. I am confident that, right now, we are most capable of
mass producing EVs in the Philippines. We are ready, and we are here for the
long run,” Mr. Oda Ended.
How much?
ReplyDelete