Surprisingly, EVs are Easy to Care For Even During Long-Term Storage

Proper car care during this quarantine period for both traditional and hybrid electric vehicles is well-documented given that they’ve been around for quite some time. But what about battery electric vehicles? The imposed quarantine measures seen around the world due to COVID-19 will be the first test of how battery-powered vehicles will cope with long periods of non-use.

Ford’s “battery expert,” Bob Taenaka, senior technical leader, Battery and Cell System Development weighs in on how the battery reacts if EVs aren’t used or charged regularly.

Taenaka says, the most important thing is to make sure that the 12-volt battery (yes, EVs still have the traditional lead-acid battery) stays charged, and that the high-voltage battery has adequate charge—10 percent or more—to prevent it from potentially draining to zero percent.

If an EV has been plugged in or driven for at least 8 hours in a month, the 12-volt battery should be adequately charged.

For the larger traction battery, Taenaka recommends keeping it at a state of charge between 10 percent and 80 percent.

A high-voltage battery above 10 percent state of charge can go for more than six months without charging, but the 12-volt battery will drain much faster, especially when connected to the vehicle.

If there are no plans to drive the EV for longer than 30 days, it’s best to disconnect the negative terminal of the 12-volt battery. If the EV or plug-in hybrid can be plugged in, keeping it charged will also charge the 12-volt battery. If no charger is available, a 12-volt battery charger like those from CTEK can be used to keep it topped up.

Ford Family Joins Tesla-Rival Rivian's Board

Ford is cementing its relationship with EV startup Rivian with the announcement that Alexandra Ford English will join the latter’s board of directors effective immediately.

Daughter of Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford, English is also the director of Corporate Strategy for Ford—responsible for the company’s enterprise strategy and connectivity and digital network strategy.

“Alexandra and I share a deep passion for mobility and electrification, and her connection to Ford’s long family role in transportation is something special. I am looking forward to working closely with her and the perspective that she will bring to the Board,” said RJ Scaringe, Rivian founder and CEO.

Ford made an initial equity investment of USD 500 million in Rivian in April 2019, and an additional equity investment in December. Moreover, Ford has announced plans to develop vehicles using the Tesla rival’s flexible skateboard platform. The first vehicle was supposed to have been premium brand Lincoln’s first EV, but citing economic complications brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, those plans have since been canceled.

“Our strategic partnership with Rivian plays an important role in the future of fully networked battery electric vehicles,” said Jim Hackett, Ford president and CEO. “With Alexandra’s experience in mobility and self-driving services, she will bring a unique perspective to Rivian’s board during this transformational time in our industry.”

English joined Ford Motor Company in 2017. Prior to joining the corporate strategy team, she was a member of the Ford Autonomous Vehicle LLC team and a member of the City Solutions team. Before joining Ford, she was responsible for managing profit and loss operations for customer-centric businesses in the merchandising divisions of Tory Burch in New York and Gap Inc. in San Francisco.

Ford Shows Off Zero Emissions Mustang Drag Racer

It won’t hurt your ears and doesn’t use a drop of fuel, but it’s projected to crush the quarter-mile in the low-8-second range at more than 273 km/h. For the first time ever, Ford Performance introduces a one-off Mustang Cobra Jet factory drag racer with all-electric propulsion.

The battery-powered Mustang Cobra Jet 1400 prototype is purpose-built and projected to deliver over 1,400 horsepower and over 1,491 Nm of instant torque to demonstrate the capabilities of an electric powertrain in one of the most demanding race environments.

Following the debut of the all-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E SUV, the Mustang Cobra Jet 1400 prototype represents another opportunity to advance its performance while simultaneously incorporating some of the technology coming to Ford’s future powertrains.

Mustang Cobra Jet 1400 also honors the original Cobra Jet that first dominated drag strips in the late 1960s and still is a major force in sportsman drag racing today.

Ford Performance continues to test Cobra Jet 1400 ahead of its world debut later this year at a drag racing event where fans, media and competitors alike will get to meet the race car, as well as see exactly what it’s capable of up on the asphalt.

Porsche Scores Double Win as 2020 World Luxury Car and World Performance Car of the Year

The Porsche Taycan scores a double win as the 2020 World Performance Car of the Year and 2020 World Luxury Car of the Year.

This is the sixth win for Porsche in the World Performance Car category, having previously won the category in 2017, 2014, 2013, 2012, and 2016. It’s the first with for the German automaker though in the World Luxury Car category.

It managed to beat its siblings—the Porsche 911 and Porsche 718 Boxster / Cayman GT4 for the World Performance Car title, while it beat out the Mercedes-Benz ECQ and Porsche 911 for the World Luxury Car title.

“The Porsche Taycan was designed with a clear purpose: To show that an electric car could provide the performance, driving pleasure and everyday comfort and usability that characterizes every Porsche. We are very proud that the international jury of the World Car Awards believes that we have succeeded”, said Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board, Porsche AG.

Vehicles were selected and voted on by an international jury panel comprising 86 prominent automotive journalists from 24 countries around the world. Each juror was appointed by the World Car Steering Committee on the basis of his or her expertise, experience, credibility, and influence. The international accounting firm KPMG tabulated the jurors’ ballots.

The all-electric Porsche Taycan is confirmed to make its Philippine debut some time in 2020.

GM Will Engineer, Make Honda's New Electric Vehicles

General Motors and Honda are jointly developing two all-new electric vehicles for Honda, based on GM’s global EV platform and powered by the American carmaker’s proprietary Ultium batteries.

The exterior and interior of the new EVs will be exclusively designed by Honda, and the platform will be engineered, GM promises, to support Honda’s sporty driving character. Production will be done at GM plants in North America with sales starting sometime 2024 for U.S. and Canada.

GM and Honda have an ongoing relationship around electrification. This includes work on fuel cells and the Cruise Origin, an electric, self-driving, and shared vehicle, which was revealed in San Francisco earlier this year. Honda also joined GM’s battery module development efforts in 2018.

As part of the agreement to jointly develop electric vehicles, Honda will incorporate GM’s OnStar safety and security services into the two EVs, seamlessly integrating them with HondaLink. Additionally, Honda plans to make GM’s hands-free advanced driver-assist technology available.

For P 3.57M, Volkswagen Lets You Convert the Samba Bus to an EV

Volkswagen is now allowing owners of its classic T1 Samba Bus to convert it to run on a zero emissions elective motor.

Produced in cooperation with eClassics, the conversion will cost an eye-watering 64,900 Euros (~ P 3.574 million), but will swap its 44-horsepower boxer for something with twice the power and torque. In the engine compartment of the “e-Bulli,” as Volkswagen officially calls it, is a near-silent electric motor with 83 horsepower and 212 Nm of torque. With that, top speed is claimed at 130 km/h thanks to a one-speed gearbox.

The components are mostly shared with Volkswagen’s ID.3 all electric car, but the 45-kWh battery is customized especially for the e-Bulli and housed right at the center of the van. It has a range of about 200 kilometers.

With the new powertrain, Volkswagen has also opted to modernize the T1 Samba Bus’s running gear. Apart from a lower center of gravity thanks to the EV powertrain, it also gets new multi-link front and rear axles with adjustable shock absorbers and coil over struts, a rack-and-pinion steering system, and ventilated disc brakes all around.

Aesthetically, the converted T1 Samba Bus remains close to the original, but it does get modern niceties such as LED headlights and a push-button start/stop. Furthermore, the seating configuration’s been altered to accommodate the EV system, while managing to keep its classic vibe.

It also gets modern touches like a Bluetooth-enabled audio system (with subwoofers and all), new instrumentation, and even a smartphone-enabled vehicle app that shows the remaining charge time, current range, and more.

The launch of the e-Bulli marks the second classic Volkswagen to receive the EV treatment. The first was the iconic Beetle which was shown at the Frankfurt Auto Show last year.

Fiat Chrysler's First EV is the All-New Fiat 500

Fiat has chosen an iconic model as its first-ever fully electric vehicle: this is the all-new Fiat 500. Taking inspiration from the two generation of city cars before it, the 500 now adds sustainable and (partly) autonomous driving features for the new decade.

Starting with a blank sheet of paper, Fiat designers integrated the classic and cool styling of the 500 which is by itself rooted in 63 years of history. It keeps its overall length still under four meters, but thanks to a brand-new platform, it’s 60 mm wider, 60 mm longer, with a wheelbase stretched by 20 mm.

The all-electric Fiat 500 packs a 42-kWh lithium-ion battery giving it a range of about 320 kilometers. And to optimize charging time, it has an 85-kW fast charging system which adds 48 kilometers of range in just 5 minutes. The fast charger can also power the battery to 80 percent in just 35 minutes.

It also has three driving modes: Normal, Range, and get this, Sherpa. As its name implies, Sherpa mode reduces the fuel consumption to a minimum. For instance, it limits maximum speed to just 80 km/h, dulls accelerator response, and deactivates both the climate control system and heated seats.

“Normal” mode is as close as possible to driving a vehicle with a normal combustion engine, while “Range” mode activates the “one-pedal-drive” function. By selecting this driving mode, the new 500 can be driven with the accelerator pedal alone. Releasing the accelerator causes much greater deceleration than with a normal combustion engine, almost as if the brake pedal was pushed.

The electric motor in the 500 has an output of 118 horsepower providing a maximum speed of 150 km/h, and an acceleration to 100 km/h in about 9 seconds.

The Fiat 500 also packs Level 2 autonomous driving tech and with that has adaptive cruise control, speed assist, blind spot monitors, and lane centering assist.

Inside, it’s the first car from FCA to come with the new Uconnect 5 infotainment system. UConnect 5 is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto operating systems, and can be used in wireless mode. The 500 also has a 10.25-inch high-definition horizontal touchscreen with a 16:9 aspect ratio.

Mazda Incorporated One Nostalgic Design Detail in the Futuristic MX-30

In a year that sees Mazda celebrate its centenary, the Japanese carmaker is also launching its first-ever all-electric vehicle, the MX-30.

The stylish crossover, fitted with “freestyle doors,” packs a 143-horsepower zero emissions powertrain which Mazda has developed fully in-house called, e-Skyactiv. Together with a 35.5-kWh lithium-ion battery, it has a range of about 209 kilometers.

But beyond the newfangled tech in the MX-30, Mazda designers found a way to integrate one design feature that’s a nod to the company’s origins: the cork-lined center console trays and inner side door handles.

Founded in 1920 as the Toyo Kogyo Cork Company, it manufactured cork before Jujiro Matsuda shifted the company’s focus to manufacture tools when the market for cork dried up following the end of World War I. By 1931, the company changed its name to the Toyo Kogyo Co., Ltd and produced the Mazdago motorized tricycle. It was only in 1984 when Toyo Kogyo officially changed its name into Mazda Motor Corporation.

For its use in the MX-30, the cork is harvested from the bark of trees without felling. Moreover, the door trim materials themselves incorporate fibers from recycled plastic bottles.

The sustainable sourcing of interior materials is certainly perfect for Mazda’s first pure electric production car. And as an added bonus, tips its hat to its humble origins as a cork maker.

Forget the Nissan Leaf, the Kicks e-Power is What We Should be Excited About

Currently, Nissan is shifting its EV education campaign into high gear likely because of the impending launch of its first all-electric vehicle locally, the Leaf. Now, while that’s all good, my eyes are fixed squarely on what I think offers the best solution for our local road conditions: the Nissan Kicks e-Power.

If the Nissan Kicks sounds familiar, it should be. It’s the less funky, but more practical replacement to the sub-compact Juke. And given it’s been out globally since 2016, it’s also been a long time coming.

Well, patience is certainly a virtue. It’s been confirmed that Thailand will serve as the production hub for the Kicks for Southeast Asia, and get this: it’s launching there this March.

Now, it’s hard to imagine what gets me excited over a three-year old crossover, until the possibility of it being equipped with Nissan’s e-Power system.

I’ve tackled how the Nissan e-Power works before, but in gist:

The Nissan e-Power system differs from traditional hybrids or purely electric vehicles in that the system uses the gasoline engine solely as a power generator. This is then connected to an inverter, a battery, and an electric motor which drives the wheels.

Basically, it’s an EV without any plugging requirements or range anxiety. How cool’s that?

Now, Nissan hasn’t revealed much in way of mechanical details for the Kicks e-Power, but the likely candidate is the 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine (HR12DE) found in the Japan market Note e-Power. If that’s the case, expect the same electric motor—a 108 horsepower, 254 Nm of torque unit to make its way into the sub-compact SUV as well. If the Kicks e-Power performs the same as the Note e-Power, expect a fuel economy in the range of 37 km/L.

Along with the introduction of e-Power, Nissan is also giving the Kicks a mid-cycle refresh. This makes it a very opportune time for Nissan to bring it into the country.

As for pricing, because the e-Power system requires a much smaller battery than something in the Leaf (plus it’s sourced in ASEAN—free trade, anyone?), it could very well be positioned as the country’s most affordable “Electric Vehicle.” Sources say that the e-Power system adds about 17 percent to the cost of a similarly-priced version which could mean that the Kicks e-Power could come in at about P 1.2 million—the same price as the current Juke 1.6 with the NISMO body kit.

Volkswagen Says the Gearbox of the Future Will Have 1 Gear

Volkswagen believes that the future of the gearbox is this: a single-speed gearbox system. As the world enters the era of e-mobility, VW understands that the nature of electric motors fundamentally changes the way power is transmitted to the wheels. For that, they’ve developed the APP310 e-drive unit.

Found in the ID.3, VW’s so-called “next-generation people’s car,” this single-gear transmission is built by Volkswagen Group Components in Kassel, Germany. According to the carmaker it’s versatile in more ways than one. For instance, the ultra-compact gearbox is quite compact, enabling engineers to easily fit it to more vehicle types easily in the near future (it can be fitted into the MQB architecture, for one). More importantly, despite having just one gear, it can cope with all driving situations.

Volkswagen explains that because electric motors have their maximum torque available immediately and remain constant over a wide range of speeds, a single-drive gearbox is enough.

However, because an electric motor needs to spin at very high speeds to achieve its peak power (up to 16,000 rpm in the case of the ID.3), a 10x transmission ratio must be used. However, realizing that using one cog might result in a bulkier design, Volkswagen opted to use a two-stage design with two smaller cogs, instead.

In addition, because an electric drive is very quiet, Volkswagen doesn’t just check its 1-speed gearbox for manufacturing precision, but they also check them for relevant noise values, too!

Bill Gates Chooses a Porsche Taycan Over a Tesla

Billionaire, philanthropist, and the guy who was partly responsible for Clippy, Bill Gates has chosen the Porsche Taycan as his first-ever full-electric vehicle or EV.

A big fan of Porsche (his collection includes the legendary Porsche 959), Gates revealed his recent purchase during an interview.

Gates shared his views on the impact of climate change, specifically calling for “historic levels of global cooperation” to tackle this. One of the ways to address this, he said, was by reducing emissions across various industries through the use of technologies. Recognizing that the “green approach will still cost more than the dirty approach,” Gates said people should be “willing to pay extra” for some of the activities meant toward such a goal—like driving EVs.

“I just got a Porsche Taycan… and I have to say—I mean, it’s a premium-price car, but it is very, very cool. That’s my first electric car and I’m enjoying it a lot,” Gates said, revealing his own steps in adopting sustainable mobility while at the same time acknowledging consumers’ concern over EVs’ range as an issue. Still, the tech giant called electric-powered passenger cars as “one of the more hopeful” areas when it comes to addressing climate change.

Despite its four-door configuration, Porsche says its Taycan is more closely related to the 911 than to the Panamera. Yet, it pairs performance with everyday usability, and now with sustainability as well.

Simultaneously introduced in three continents in September last year, the Taycan is currently being built, with the first batch of vehicles set to arrive this year in markets across the globe. Included among these markets is the Philippines.

The Nissan LEAF Proves How Reliable EVs Can Be

While the headline at the 2020 J.D. Power U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study was Hyundai’s luxury division, Genesis beating both Lexus and Porsche, there’s also one interesting takeaway in the study: the Nissan Leaf just beat everyone else as the most dependable compact car.

The Nissan Leaf ranked as the top performing non-premium vehicle, and at the top of the compact car segment with a score of 83 problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100)—figures that help it beat the likes of the Toyota Corolla.

Since the J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study takes into account the first three years of vehicle ownership, this result is a validation of sorts of how reliable a Full EV could be. After all, the Leaf makes history as being the first EV to be included as one of the top results in the study’s 31-year history.

It also matches what the U.S.-based Kelley Blue Book has noted. Factoring in the vehicle purchase price, expected depreciation, fuel cost, finance charges, insurance, maintenance costs, and repair costs, the Nissan Leaf has the lowest cost of ownership even compared to the likes of the Toyota Corolla (the lowest one powered by a conventional gasoline engine).

Now We Know Why Nadine Lustre Didn't Answer Xian Gaza's "Mustang Bouquet"

Dear Xian, you know why Nadine Lustre didn’t answer your “Mustang bouquet”? It’s because you were trying to give her the WRONG Mustang. But hey, we understand your confusion; we’re so confused as well.

Anyway, in a Ford-commissioned survey of 3,000 respondents from Europe, US, and China, 8 out 10 are down for an “electric-powered date night” (whatever that means), with 3 in 4 saying they’d actually prefer to date an EV owner. In short, you should have gotten her a “Mustang Mach-E bouquet.”

This goes out to all you bros out there, too. If you’re not scoring tonight, it’s because you are not in an EV. Yeah, apparently, chicks don’t like fancy sports car and whatever; they dig the strong and silent type, the one who secretly cares for the environment, and stuff.

Anyway, Ford goes on.

They say that their first-ever EV, the Mustang Mach-E can also help you “celebrate with a new squeeze, revisite an old flame, or do the anti-holiday night out with the gals (or guys).” So imagine Xian, Nadine, and Erich all in the same car. Hmmmm...catty. But hey, at least you can serve them near-bottomless chicken wings.

And, if you’re un-gentlemanly enough to have nothing planned on V-Day, don’t worry. The Mustang Mach-E also comes with Ford’s first-ever cloud-connected communications system, SYNC 4A. With that, you can simply leave it to Yelp to choose where you should be eating.

You'll be Able to Ride Around a Poké Ball in the Near Future

Ever wondered what it’ll be like to ride inside a poké ball? Well, here’s the closest thing, and it’s the brainchild of McLaren F1 designer, Gordon Murray.

Partly funded by the UK government, the MOTIV as this poké ball on wheels is officially called, is developed to be a cost-effective, ultra-lightweight vehicle platform with zero tailpipe emissions and full autonomy (self-driving) capability.

The ultra-compact MOTIV (2,537-mm in length and 1,310-mm in width) is a single-seater that’s the personal transportation device of the future.

Its powertrain is developed by Delta Motorsport and for that, it’s powered by a 27-horsepower electric motor and has a 17.3 kWh liquid-cooled battery pack giving it a range of up to 100 kilometers. Charging can take as little as 40 minutes.

It’s designed to meet all existing passenger car safety standards and can travel at speeds up to 65 km/h, yet thanks to Gordon Murray’s iStream Superlight technology, its weight is just 450 kilograms (excluding batteries). This was done using ultra-lightweight high-strength extruded aluminum chassis and an aluminum suspension system.

Aside from its poké ball-like looks, the MOTIV also has a gull-wing door for improved accessibility and weather protection for passengers during ingress and egress.

Built with autonomy from the get-go, testing of its driverless capabilities can begin almost immediately. No target date was given, but MOTIV is targeted to be the first fully autonomous single seater pod in the market.

The Nissan Leaf Will Now Lull You to Sleep

Some parents will probably know that car rides have this magical effect of lulling babies and toddlers to sleep. Apparently, there’s a reason behind this and it’s down to the naturally soothing sound frequencies of internal combustion engines. But what happens if everyone shifts to electric? What then?

Engineers at Nissan seem to understand the situation. Here’s something Paul Speed-Andrews, Noise and Vibration development manager at Nissan said: “The quiet soundscape of an EV might not be as effective as internal combustion engine (ICE) cars [when it comes to lulling babies to sleep]. Combustion engines transmit a sound frequency, a combination of white, pink, and brown noise varied in tone–creating an orchestral soundscape that is especially soothing and comforting to young children.”

And so, Nissan collaborated with Sound Designer and Sleep Coach Tom Middleton to create a track specifically made to help kids sleep. Made up of five three-minute tracks, the soundscape mimics the peaceful audio frequencies of a humming combustion engine, but without the tailpipe emissions. Moreover, they’ve optimized the track to emit a wider range of “hypnotic” frequencies, too.

You can actually download the MP3 file for yourself here. Drop us a line below if you think it worked for you.

Volvo PH Will Make Sure Your Can Use Your Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle Properly

After we posted our musing on driving a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) as a pure EV in Manila traffic, Volvo Philippines reached out to us to clarify the aspect of home charging.

According to Scandinavian Motors Corporation, the official distributor of Volvo Cars in the Philippines, each purchase of their T8 TwinEngine—the S90 T8, XC60 T8, or XC90 T8 includes a survey of the owner’s place of residence (or at least where he or she intends to park the Volvo PHEV).

From here, they will assess if the garage’s electrical outlets are suitable for their charging dock. If not, they will install a compatible wall box to make sure owners can use the T8 TwinEngine’s plug-in functionality. They’ll even include 16-amp fast charger (the regular one is just a 6-amp charger) which tops up the 11.6 kWh battery in just 3 hours! Not bad.

Volvo Philippines may be a bit quieter on their push towards electrified vehicles, but it looks like they’re taking the right, concrete steps to make sure the transition is as painless to the owner as possible. Other carmakers should certainly take note.

Ford Just Found a Contrived Use for the Mustang Mach-E's "Frunk"

Just look at their stupid faces; ah the grin of success. Seems these millennials have found a new use for the unfortunately-named Ford Mustang Mach-E by transforming that front trunk (frunk) into a makeshift Tupperware.

While we have to admit it’s a great way to show off the possibilities of that 136-liter plastic frunk, we can’t help but think it’s all too contrived. I mean, think of how unhygienic all this sounds.

Sure, there’s a drain plug right at the bottom but who, in the right frame of mind will stuff it with shaved ice and chilled shrimp? What is this? The Good Place. If you’re not Eleanor Shellstrop, Ford says you can also fill it up with up to 1,000 chicken wings. What the fuck.

Anyway, Ford does point out that the Mustang Mach-E’s frunk has a drain plug at the bottom so liquids (even ranch dressing) will just drip down when it’s time for a wash (please, do so—don’t be mixing your gym clothes with tabasco because that’s just nasty). But hey, at least it makes for a good makeshift drink cooler. Don’t expect it to do wonders to your car’s weight distribution, though.

Anyway, Ford believes that you, like these smiling millennials will be “life of the frunk-ty,” if you happen to show off that frunk by stuffing it with chicken wings. Who knows, you can even play a game of long-distance cornhole.

I'm Pretty Sure I'm Not Ready to Own an EV Just Yet

Initially, I thought I’d be one of the first to champion electric vehicles. Given the short distance I drive on a daily basis, I could live with the daily routine of charging my car daily in exchange for zero tailpipe emissions, and max torque available from zero rpm. But all that’s changed after I sampled the Volvo XC60 T8 Twin Engine. This is when I figured out: boy, the Philippines isn’t ready to join the EV bandwagon just yet.

A little caveat: this isn’t a full review of the XC60 T8 Twin Engine—that’ll come at a later time. Instead, lets focus on the aspect being a theoretical EV owner. See, what makes this particular variant of the XC60 different from other hybrids, say those from Toyota or Lexus, is the ability to plug it straight into a 220-volt socket. This negates having to rely on the internal combustion engine to charge the traction battery (though you can) thereby giving us a good glimpse of what EV ownership would be like.

Now, take note: the battery of the XC60 T8 Twin Engine isn’t that big. At 11.6 kWh, it’s dwarfed even by the Lexus RX450h’s 37 kWh. Still, Volvo says it’s good for about 30 kilometers (US EPA)  and up to 54 kilometers (European WLTP) when fully juiced up. Let’s put that to the test.

Picking it up from Volvo’s offices along Pasong Tamo, the battery was fully charged, and the electric-only range showed, what else, 30 kilometers. Since I knew it’ll be a slow trudge along EDSA to my office in Marikina, this is perfect scenario of how an EV will cope.

Initially, it was smooth sailing. I drove conservatively, allowing the system to recover my kinetic energy and braking energy to add charge to the battery. It was great until I hit traffic near the Ayala Tunnel area. From this point, the computer re-calculated the range. It crept down, constantly—displaying 30 then 25 then 20. And mind you, that was for a distance of not more than 2.2 kilometers. The built-in display in the SENSUS system confirmed my worst fears: I was consuming electricity at the rate of more than 40 kWh per 100 kilometers. At this rate, if traffic didn’t let up, I would have completely depleted the battery just getting to the office, and would have lost more than 30 percent in range.

True enough, I did make it back to my office with no fuel consumed, though the remaining range showed a blank figure—confirming that I’ve depleted the Volvo’s 11.6 kWh battery. Now, since my office garage space has access to a 220-volt socket, I attempted a charge. The entire process should take around 8 hours. Surprisingly, everything was painless and straightforward. The charging system has several fail-safe mechanisms built-in. Socket not to spec? No charge. Plug not secured properly? No charge. Car too hot or too cold? No charge. The only problem was that instead of displaying the problem in plain English, I had to memorize what each set of LED meant. Anyway, given that the system draws only 6 amps, there’s no way of tripping the circuit breaker. Sadly, my plug wasn’t to spec since EVs require a properly grounded three-prong plug, and no, you can’t use an adapter.

Throughout the entire exercise, I was confident simply because I had a gasoline engine to fall back on. But if this were a pure EV? I wouldn’t have been so lucky. Sure, an all-electric vehicle would have a larger and more robust battery than this plug-in hybrid, but this experiment highlights two personal issues I have with EVs.

First is about the range. Given Manila’s horrendous traffic and the draw of electrical accessories such as air conditioning on an EV’s range, it’s about time that carmakers stop touting how much theoretical range their EVs could do, lest it will lead to disappointment. Now some will argue that carmakers have done the same thing when it comes to their fuel economy figures, right? Well, we must remember that there’s a gasoline station not more than a few kilometers apart, and refueling takes just 10 minutes as opposed to an EV’s 10 hours. Instead, I propose that carmakers work on selling EVs based on its merits as a huge technological advancement and as a zero emissions vehicle with lower running costs.

Second is a realization that the Philippine infrastructure isn’t ready for EVs yet. Even when a car comes with a cable intended for home use, it’s imperative for carmakers to actually check if their customers can accommodate charging EVs properly in the first place. Perhaps, they should go the extra mile and install a home charging station to fully maximize the ownership experience. Even if it doesn’t look as sexy as the newest sportscar or hot as the newest SUV, carmakers will have to spend even more time explaining how EVs work. Not only will they be selling a car, but they’ll have to actually teach the car buyer how it’s properly used.

Electric vehicle ownership is an entirely different animal, and I’m now convinced that the Philippines isn’t ready for it. If those things are addressed, then sure, I would re-consider getting an EV once more. But at the current state of things, I’m heading to the middle ground in believing that electrified vehicles—hybrids or plug-in hybrids make for the best solution for an environmentally-sound motoring in the local setting.