EV logistics firm Mober has just taken a big step toward expanding its business by opening the country’s largest commercial electric vehicle charging station along Macapagal Avenue in Pasay.

The facility was formally opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by Mober CEO and founder Dennis Ng, senator Sherwin Gatchalian, and Pasay City mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano. It measures 3,000sq-m and contains 50 7kW chargers and two 60kW fast chargers, capable of charging up to 200 electric delivery vehicles a day. The firm invested P14 million into the project, with the biggest chunk of around P8-9 million spent on groundworks and cabling.

Solar power is also being explored as a cheaper and more sustainable source of electricity. The vast roof of the facility would be perfect for the installation of solar photovoltaic panels, and Mober is currently exploring this option, with up to 450kW of sunshine-generated fuel up for grabs this way. One key challenge here is the fact that the trucks are usually on the road when the sun is shining, and only come back to charge overnight. As a result, the addition of a 500kWh battery energy storage system is also currently being explored.

This isn’t Mober’s first charging facility, having opened an 800sq-m hub with 30 charging ports in Pasay’s Zamora Street before, and it certainly won’t be the last. While the 3,000sq-m facility is already huge, Mober’s ambitious expansion plans mean that it might well be the smallest in its portfolio soon. One of the reasons for that is also the location of the Central Charge facility in Pasay, where it primarily services IKEA and some Makati-based delivery services.

Plans for growth go way beyond Metro Manila. In the south, Mober is looking to build a 6,000-10,000sq-m facility by the end of this year. The precise location hasn’t been decided yet, but Laguna is high on the firm’s wish list. In the north, Bulacan or a location very near Pampanga is eyed for another charging hub. The company wants to own and operate 500 units by 2026, and 1,600 units in the next four years.

Most of the vehicles are China-sourced electric trucks with honeycomb cargo compartments that hold 2.6 tons of cargo. The trucks Mober uses cost around P1.8 million each, which is significantly more than a diesel equivalent. However, the running costs are lower, with around P3 per kilometer for the EV, compared to P9 for a diesel-truck equivalent. Reliability also hasn’t been an issue, with some of the trucks doing 150km every day for the last three years. Trucks are never charged to 100%, with the charging window usually ranging between 20% to 80% to keep the battery happy.

During an interview at the newly opened hub, Ng also mentioned the big differences that drivers experience when they switch over from internal-combustion-engine trucks to electric ones. With no clutch, no vibrations, and an air-conditioned cabin, gone are the days of pasma, and the new trucks are also better suited for lady drivers as a result. The company already employs six female drivers, and is keen to add more to its team.

As soon as you step into the facility, you realize that this isn’t your average transport company, and not just because of the many electric charging points located within it. The walls are painted in bright colors; everything is spotless; and staff facilities, including training and break rooms, are modern. This is a place that represents the future of logistics, and that includes vehicles as well as the working culture.

Anyone who thinks the whole venture is primarily a feel-good exercise with no footing in commercial reality would be wrong. According to Ng, the company is already profitable, and any fundraising is primarily done to fuel expansion. Despite this—and the growing demand for this type of transport solution—he is discouraging others from following in his footsteps just yet.

Smaller companies that might see his success and want to recreate it by converting their diesel fleets to electric trucks will have to overcome several challenges ranging from getting the charging infrastructure in place to having to cope with higher purchasing costs for electric trucks right now. The demand for electric and carbon-neutral delivery services is certainly there, but more needs to happen before it can be rolled out on a broader scale.

This includes infrastructure works from the likes of Meralco, but also steps by government. Senator Gatchalian, who authored the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act, highlighted the importance of accessible charging infrastructure for widespread EV adoption, and that more needs to be done before the country is truly ready for mass adoption. He mentioned that utilities must upgrade technology and infrastructure to ensure a reliable power supply for EVs, and that government will also be looking at further incentives to encourage EV uptake in the country. For the last bit, he’s leading by example—driving a hybrid car himself.

For now, Mober is leading the charge and an important one at that. As we have pointed out time and time again, air pollution is a massive problem in the Philippines, and one that kills thousands of people per year. If all the old diesel trucks you see on our roads were replaced by solar-powered electric ones, the city and the country would be a much nicer place.

If you fancy becoming part of this change for the better and could see yourself behind the wheel of a truck, then Mober might have a job for you. The company is about to take delivery of another 100 trucks, and while they do have enough space to charge these, what they really need are people to drive them. The firm is currently employing around 380 people, and is actively recruiting for more (female drivers are encouraged to apply).

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