The Department of Energy (DOE) will consult with stakeholders on the drafting of a circular for the implementation of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations all over the country.

Under the draft policy set out by the department, it laid down plans for the setting up of both private and public charging stations that shall be established in designated areas.

The DOE specified that private charging stations shall be those “installed in private buildings and establishments which may be open for use by the public for a fee.”

Alternatively, public charging stations for EVs will cover those “installed in public buildings and establishments as well as gasoline stations, which are available for use by the public for a fee.”

The DOE emphasized that public buildings and establishments shall refer to “structures owned or leased by the government through its departments, agencies, bureaus, offices, corporations and local government units.”

The DOE further established there must be four classifications of charging stations that interested investors can set up – and these are categorized as electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) modes 1, 2, 3 and 4 that shall all be in compliance with the Department of Trade and Industry-Bureau of Philippine Standards.

One key requirement set forth by the DOE for interested investors in EV charging stations is to comply with registration requirement at the agency’s Energy Utilization Management Bureau (EUMB).

“Prior to initial engagement in the proposed activity or prior to the construction of the EVCS facilities, any person/entity who may own, establish and operate EVCS and in any similar activities is to file a notice with the EUMB,” the DOE stated.

In compliance to EVCS standards and safety requirements, the energy department mandated that the investing-entity shall include “listed system of protection against electric shock of personnel and classification according to the charging modes and functions for energy transfer to EVs in accordance with existing Philippine National Standard.”

It was further decreed that “consistent with existing safety standards and regulations of the DTI-BPS, all components of the EVCS, such as but not limited to plugs, sockets, cables, etc., are to be certified with the Philippine Standards (PS) license and/or by the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) certificate.”

On the installation of the EV chargers, it is directed that the owners of the private or public buildings and even the retail stations of oil companies, “may allow a third party charging station provider to install, operate and/or maintain the charging station, or enter into any other contractual arrangement with such third party charging station service provider in a fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms.”

The proposed DOE policy framework also emphasized that “the location of the EVCS on dedicated parking slots and retail outlets shall display proper energy labels, road signs, protocol signs and pavement marking,” pursuant to the prescriptions of Republic Act 11285 or the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act.