Philippines coal grid undermines EV emissions case, warns former lawmaker
By Eve
Former Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate has highlighted that electric vehicles in the Philippines, particularly in Mindanao, offer limited emissions reductions because the regional grid relies heavily on coal-fired plants including Therma South Inc. in Davao City and San Miguel Power in Davao del Sur. He argues that the country is merely relocating emissions from vehicle exhausts to power plant smokestacks rather than eliminating them, and calls for the EV transition to drive broader energy policy reform.
Why it matters: For charging infrastructure developers in the Philippines, grid composition directly affects the environmental value proposition of their networks. The debate may influence future policy incentives and the business case for pairing charging sites with on-site renewable generation.