Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) and Manila Electric Company (Meralco) recently unveiled its electric vehicle (EV) quick charging station at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Central Office in Quezon City.

Minoru Kinoshita, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation General Manager for Philippine Business Department; Atty. Jonas R. Leones, DENR Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs; and Ceferino S. Rodolfo, DTI Undersecretary for Industry Development and Trade Policy Group were also present at the unveiling event.

The charging station was donated by MMPC in fulfillment of its role in the reduction of environmental pollutions following a grant of 10 EV units from MMC from its Mitsubishi i-MiEV and Outlander PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) lines.

The i-MiEV is Mitsubishi’s 5-door hatchback electric car, while the Outlander PHEV is the world’s first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle mid-size SUV.

Other EV charging stations lined up for installation at the DENR offices in Cebu and Davao, as well as the DTI office in Makati City, have also been donated by MMPC.

The car manufacturer has been at the forefront of EV development and was the first to bring in a pure electric car in the country. MMPC’s engagement with the DENR and DTI is just one of EV proliferations activities with various other Philippine government agencies and the private sector, including Meralco, in recent months.

Recognizing Meralco’s prominence in the power space, MMPC commissioned Meralco’s subsidiary, MSERV, to construct the EV charging stations equipped with CHAdeMO quick charging technology.

The contraction comes from the Japanese phrase O cha demo ikagadesuka, which translates to “How about a cup of tea?”, in reference to the time it would take to charge the car.

A proponent of energy innovation, efficient use of power resources, and sustainable green technologies, Meralco has been pushing for wider use of EVs in the country in response to ecological and economic demands.

The partnership between Meralco, MMC, and MMPC is clear validation of the companies’ continued leadership in expanding use of electric vehicles in the country and their attention to environmental advocacy.