Despite the increasing popularity and availability of electric vehicles (EVs) in the country, many people are still hesitant to add an electric vehicle to their garage. This hesitation is usually because of one (or both!) of two things: 1. The prohibitive price of the vehicles, and 2. Range anxiety.
Let’s be honest. Even though many EVs, especially if you factor in regenerative charging, can easily get you from Manila to Baguio and back on just a fully charged battery, range anxiety is real. This is probably because we’re so accustomed to being able to top up at any of the numerous gas stations we pass on our route.
Especially in our country whose infrastructure isn’t as sophisticated or “ready” as other more advanced countries, it’s good to see that more and more charging stations are slowly cropping up, albeit most are doing so independently.
SM Supermalls EV Charging Stations
Did you know that SM currently has 32 EV chargers distributed among 27 SM Supermalls nationwide? This makes the SM Supermalls the biggest chain of malls in the country to offer this service.
“The EV charging stations in SM Supermalls are one of the sustainability initiatives under the SM Green Movement. Aside from advocating air conservation and clean energy through this innovation, we champion solid waste management, water conservation, energy efficiency, and disaster resilience for a greener, safer tomorrow,” said Mr. Steven Tan, President of SM Supermalls.
Twenty-six (26) of the twenty-seven (27) SM EV charging stations are equipped with Wallbox Pulsar Plus 7.4kW AC Chargers with Type 2 connectors that is standard for European and Asian vehicles from 2018 onwards. The one located in SM Baguio, however, is equipped with a Level 3 Tritium RTM 75kW DC Fast Charger with CCS1/CCS2 and CHAdeMO connectors that allows for faster charging. These connectors are compatible with a wide range of BEVs from Asian, European, and American makes.
In Metro Manila, SM Malls with EV Charging station are: SM North Edsa; SM Megamall; SM Mall of Asia; SM Aura; SM Southmall; The Podium; SM City Valenzuela; SM City Grand Central; SM City Fairview; SM City Manila; SM City San Lazaro; SM City Sta. Mesa; SM City Marikina; SM City Bicutan; SM City BF Paranaque.
Aside from SM Baguio, the charging stations are located outside Metro Manila are in SM City Clark; SM Center Tuguegarao Downtown; SM City Trece Martires; SM City Sta. Rosa; Sky Ranch Tagaytay; SM City Naga; SM City Cebu; SM Seaside City Cebu; SM City CDO Uptown; SM CDO Downtown Premier; and SM Lanang Premier.
For now, charging at SM Malls is free for anyone who wants to avail of the services, for as long as your vehicle is compatible or you have your own adaptors. This is regardless of how long they need to charge their vehicles, and depending on availability (first-come-first-serve).
Can I get to Mindanao in an EV?
Would it be possible to travel from Manila to Mindanao in an EV just relying on SM Charging stations? Let’s do the math. Say for example we take the BYD Dolphin EV (currently priced at Php 1.688M) that has a travel distance (AKA range) of 400 kilometers, starting from Araneta Center in Quezon City with a full charge.
The first leg south-bound would be towards SM Sta. Rosa (approx 45.5 kms) to top up the battery. Even though the initial distance is quite short, topping up the charge as far as possible from Manila is crucial as the next drive is going to be a long one. The BYD Dolphin can plug into SM’s Wallbox Pulsar Plus 7.4kW AC Charger using a CCS2 to GBT adaptor. According to BYD Philippines President Mark Tieng, , it will take 40 minutes to charge 10% which is equivalent to 40km.
From Sta. Rosa, it’s an 8-hour drive (approx 356kms) to Naga City which is honestly challenging no matter what kind of vehicle you bring. Due to mall hours and time constrains, you will need to wait ’til morning to plug into SM Naga’s EV Charging Station. Since the mall opens at 10 AM and a full-charge would take about 6-7 hours, you will have just enough time to drive to the Matnog Pier (210kms) to catch the Ro-Ro to Cebu that leaves at midnight. The voyage that crosses Luzon to Visayas will take around 9 hours – enough time to sleep and regroup. Upon arrival in Bogo City, travel time to SM Seaside City Cebu (approx 100kms) will take about 3 hours. Since charging would take another 6-7 hours, you just might need to spend the night in the city again before heading to the Pier (approx. 7km) to take the Ro-Ro that crosses to Mindanao that will sail from 8-10 hours. Upon arrival in Cagayan de Oro, it’s just a 6-minute drive (2.4km) to the nearest SM Mall.
This, of course is just theoretical. We never said it was going to be easy, but it is possible. Also, it’s worth noting that charging times would be drastically shorter if the stations were all equipped with fast DC chargers like the one in SM Baguio. But again, with the given equipment, it is still possible.
So while there still isn’t an official list of EV charging stations in the country, it’s good to know that most SM Supermalls offer the service and are more than “happy to serve” your EV charging needs.