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MEDIA RELEASE
23 September 2026
EV Adoption Gains Ground as DOE Strengthens Safety, Charging Ecosystem
More Filipino motorists are shifting to electric vehicles (EVs), expanding cleaner mobility choices and reducing reliance on conventional fuels, with EVs accounting for nearly one in every four vehicles sold nationwide from January to August 2026. As electric mobility gains ground in the Philippine transport market, the Department of Energy (DOE) is strengthening safety and emergency-response preparedness to ensure that the country's rapidly growing EV fleet is supported by safe charging, responsible vehicle use, and trained first responders.
At least 66,685 EVs were sold during the eight-month period, comprising 20,716 hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), 29,649 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and 16,320 battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Against an estimated 270,124 total vehicle sales over the same monitoring period, EVs represented about 24.7 percent of the market.
“What we are seeing is a broader range of electric mobility choices becoming available to Filipino consumers. As adoption increases, our responsibility is to make sure that the infrastructure, policies, and safety capabilities needed to support these vehicles keep pace,” Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said.
The country's broader EV ecosystem is expanding alongside vehicle adoption. As of the end of August 2026, DOE-recognized EV models reached 949, up by 67 from the previous month, while registered EV charging stations nationwide reached 1,876.
The expansion supports the objectives of the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA) and the Comprehensive Roadmap for the Electric Vehicle Industry (CREVI), including the Clean Energy Scenario target of a 50-percent EV fleet share by 2040.
The government is also working to develop the domestic EV industry through the Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy (EVIS) under Executive Order No. 121, which provides up to ₱60 billion in performance-based fiscal support for qualified investments in EV and related industries.
“The President's vision is to make electric mobility a mainstream part of our transport system—reducing our dependence on imported fuel, lowering transport costs over time, and creating opportunities for investment, manufacturing, and jobs,” Secretary Garin added.
Alongside measures to expand EV adoption and infrastructure, the DOE, with support from industry partners, is strengthening practical safety preparedness among motorists and emergency responders, covering safe EV use and charging, battery care, high-voltage electrical hazards, and appropriate emergency-response procedures.
“The growth of electric mobility must go hand in hand with safety. Drivers need to know how to charge and operate EVs properly, while our first responders must be equipped to act safely and effectively during emergencies. These capabilities are essential to building public confidence in electric mobility,” Secretary Garin said.
These efforts were reinforced during the “Drive Electric: EV Safety” forum held on 4 September 2026 with industry stakeholders, where motorists and emergency personnel received practical guidance on EV safety, including the handling of high-voltage electrical incidents and vehicle containment.
The DOE will continue working with industry stakeholders, local government units, and emergency-response teams to expand consumer safety information and roll out regional responder workshops across the country, while advancing the infrastructure and investments needed to support the continued growth of electric mobility in the Philippines. ###