Shell Group subsidiaries, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation (PSPC) and Shell Energy Philippines (SEPH), have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Energy (DOE) to scale up the deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) to be powered by renewable energy (RE). In the latest tripartite deal inked with the government, the Shell companies dangled a pilot program on the installation of "Shell Recharge" EV charging stations that will primarily lean on RE as its fuel source. According to the company, the MOA with the energy department “is anchored on the goals and targets of the Philippine Energy Plan 2020-2040 for the transition towards clean energy fuels and technologies” – primarily with the aspiration for 10-percent electric mobility penetration in the transport sector by 2040. “This agreement is in support of the government’s implementation of the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA), which establishes the national development plan to accelerate the development, commercialization, and utilization of EVs in the country,” Shell noted. PSPC President and CEO Lorelie Quiambao-Osial emphasized that the Shell group is looking forward “to more opportunities where we can support the government as we continue to power progress for Filipinos in the years to come.” The company explained that its EV chargers (EVCs) provide “end-to-end low-carbon solution for EV drivers from a sustainable power source” – and that the agreement with DOE, specifically targets the conduct of “a pilot study of EVCs supplied by RE such as solar.” Shell fleshed out that “the key components of the pilot project include supply, installation, operation, and maintenance of EVCs, monitoring, and verification of energy efficiency, performance, and savings through the utilization of RE, and optimization of the use of cleaner energy.” Taking cue from data generated through the study, such will then “serve as a benchmark for PSPC and SEPH to develop and roll out the Shell Recharge EV charging network in its existing and future mobility stations as well as an opportunity for Shell to provide recommendations to DOE for the EV industry development and use of RE for EV,” the company stressed. To Energy Secretary Raphael P. M. Lotilla, the recently cemented pact with Shell is being considered by the department as “a sound testament of their resoluteness in maximizing value creation while contributing to global climate change mitigation.” Currently, the company has its Shell Recharge infrastructure for EVs at its Shell Mamplasan station along South Luzon Expressway, and that is touted as a proof-of-concept on the viability of powering EV chargers with RE - primarily its mix of solar and hydro for that specific facility. It is worth noting that as the world shifts to cleaner and greener energy sources, EVs have been gaining traction as an option being advanced for use in transport systems. However, the adoption of EVs is still hindered by many challenges – one major factor of which is their continued dependence on fossil fuels, hence, there are apprehensions on the carbon reduction prospects being tied to the massive scale development of EVs.