Grab Philippines and BYD Cars Philippines are partners in a pilot study examining the feasibility of electric vehicles (EVs) as digital ride-hailing members of the P40-billion industry.
The pilot study will run for a month and will closely follow the experience of a contingent of Grab driver-partners testing the BYD Dolphin. It will examine key operational and economic implications of using EVs as TNVS vehicles.
The pilot study will launch in the cities of Makati, Pasay, Mandaluyong and in BGC leveraging on the areas’ existing EV charging infrastructure.
“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,” RJ Dela Vega, head of Mobility at Grab Philippines, said.
“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,” he added.
Toti Zara, head of retail and distribution at ACMobility, Ayala’s automotive and mobility infrastructure group, is confident the joint pilot study will help address the challenges.
“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,” Zara said.
In preparation for the deployment of EVs in the GrabCar fleet, a dedicated group of Grab driver-partners underwent a special training with the BYD Cars Philippines team.
“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,” Teofilo Guadiz, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, 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.
