CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) – The Department of Energy (DOE) Region 7 emphasized that the decarbonization of the transport sector through electric vehicles (EV) is one of the pathways to a sustainable energy future.
Aside from their high technology features and low maintenance costs, EVs are a smart choice for the environment as they produce zero emissions that contribute to cleaner, resilient, and inclusive energy solutions, especially as the energy grid shifts toward renewable sources.
During the opening activity of the National Energy Consciousness Month and ‘Pathways to a Sustainable Energy Future’ forum on Dec. 3 in Cebu City, DOE-7 officer-in-charge Dir. Renante M. Sevilla highlighted that Visayas has many potential renewable energy (RE) sources to be developed and utilized.
“As far as Visayas is concerned, daghang mga RE potential nato na we really want nga ma-harness,” he said.
(We have a lot of potential RE that we really want to harness.)
In his presentation, DOE Energy Policy and Planning Bureau chief of the Planning Division Francis Richard O. Rabulan presented the idea of shifting traditional vehicles to more sustainable alternatives, such as EVs, to reduce reliance on internal combustion engines that produce toxic emissions harmful for the environment.
“Tinitignan kasi sya (It is viewed) as a way to move away sa dependence natin (from our dependence) on internal combustion engines and looking at another source for our transport sector,” said Rabulan.
Global Star Motors Brand and CX manager Janssen Torredes, one of the panelists during the forum, explained that EVs are more convenient than the typical gas power engines.
“Without refueling, without recharging, you can go for as long as 1,600 kilometers range. That’s the beauty of having an EV,” he said.
Torredes also said that EVs are considered to be easier to maintain without costing a lot of money.
“Average sa gas power engine, ang gastos mo (The average cost for a gas power engine) for the next five years is P100,000 plus. Buying an EV, the ownership maintenance is around P26,000 in five years,” he said.
“Wala namang masyadong maintenance kasi (There is not much maintenance because) you don’t have to buy for the oil change. Only brake pads every six months,” Toreddes added.
Elizar John P. Casipong, a student from the Cebu Institute Technology (CIT) University, said that EVs are safer than the traditional jeepneys.
“If normal nga jeepney akong sakyan, gas nga i-emit nya is baho. Maka-cause sya ug labad sa ulo,” he said.
(If I ride in a traditional jeepney, the emitted gas has a bad smell that gives me a headache.)
He also said that EVs are student-friendly as it is cost-efficient for students who have to commute to and from school.
“Makatabang na sya ug dako, as a student, kay mas less ang akong magasto if magtravel-travel ko from school to boarding house,” he said.
(It is helpful for me as a student because it costs less when traveling from the school to the boarding house.) (MSH/PIA7)
