The event aims to drive the adoption commercial electronic vehicles (EVs) in the country.
Logistics services provider Mober spearheaded the celebration of World Electric Vehicle (EV) Day in the Philippines on Monday, September 9, the fifth year that it had been observed in the Philippines.
The company hosted the “Leading the Way in Green Logistics: A Forum on Moving Together for a Carbon-Free Philippines,” which focused on accelerating the adoption of commercial EVs in the country.
Present in the event are representatives from the government, private sector, and other organizations pushing forward that share the common goal regarding EVs and its use in the logistics sector, which is widely recognized as a significant contributor to global carbon dioxide emissions.
“World EV Day is more than just a celebration—it’s a call to unite and collaborate in accelerating the adoption of commercial EVs. The transition to sustainable logistics requires the collective efforts of the government, the private sector, and consumers,” Mober CEO Dennis Ng said.
Established in July 2015, Mober is a pioneering force driving the transition to green deliveries in the Philippines as they currently own the largest fleet of delivery EVs in Southeast Asia.
Meanwhile, Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure at the Department of Transportation (DOTr) Jesus Ferdinand “Andy” Ortega said that the country “[…] must fast-track the transition to EVs.”
“By promoting the use of EVs and active transport, the Philippines is making strides toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with our commitments under the Paris Agreement and national development goals,” Usec. Ortega added.
The forum also featured panel discussions that tackled timely and pressing issues on the shift to commercial EVs and businesses’ efforts to achieve their sustainability targets by integrating electrified delivery services in their supply chain operations.
The first segment focused on the challenges and opportunities in transitioning to commercial EVs, while the other on strategies for achieving their sustainability goals through greener logistics practices together with some of the leading brands.
During the first panel, Anton Mauricio, Undersecretary and General Manager of the National Development Company (NDC), emphasized the importance of investing in the overall energy ecosystem.
“Our role at NDC is to signal confidence in emerging industries. By strategically investing in energy storage, renewable energy, and EVs, we aim to attract more capital and drive innovation for a sustainable future,” Mauricio said.
The panelists agreed that while the shift to commercial EVs presents challenges, such as infrastructure and cost, the opportunities to reduce emissions and improve supply chain efficiency are key factors to consider to make the space more viable for investment.
Moving on to the second panel, companies like IKEA Philippines, Kuehne+Nagel, Nestlé Philippines, and Rustans Coffee (Starbucks Philippines), expressed enthusiasm for integrating more EVs into their supply chains, aligning their efforts with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).