Electrification has become, by far, one of the buzzwords of the past decade. By definition, electrification is the process of replacing the use of fossil fuels with technology that utilizes electrical energy. On a long-term scope, this conversion is proven to reduce overall carbon dioxide emissions, thereby mitigating climate change and reducing carbon footprint. It is also a process that will allow the Earth to heal from the damages of human activity and degradation. From a global economic perspective, it applies to industry and how the shift from fossil fuels to electric energy is imperative as the world races against time to counteract the damages of heightened carbon dioxide emissions and climate change.
In the automotive industry, electrification comes in the form of EV technology, pertaining particularly to electric vehicles and its various iterations. These include three main types of vehicles: Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), which are 100 percent powered by an electric battery and produces zero emissions, Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) that are built with both a gas tank and an electric motor that can be charged by an external charging port; and Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) that run on an electric motor, but is charged internally by a gas engine.
The rapid advancement in research and development of EV technology in recent decades comes as a bold move for the industry in its quest to achieve zero emissions and provide clean energy to support the direction toward sustainable mobility. Most first-world countries have adapted to having more electric vehicles on the road, alongside its petrol counterparts, with China currently leading the global market for most EVs sold. Southeast Asia has likewise seen progress, with countries like Singapore and Thailand road mapping charging stations along major city routes to encourage the shift toward sustainable driving. Europe, on the other hand, has slowly expanded beyond passenger vehicles and into commercial and industrial transport, with charging stations and support hubs having been erected along major thoroughfares and interstate highways.
Over the years, the most reputable car brands have begun the tentative introduction of electric vehicles into the Philippines, as a response to the call for greener and cleaner mobility solutions and to provide a more cost-efficient means of road travel. Among these manufacturers is BYD, the first automaker in the world to focus on integrating green energy technologies in a well-rounded sphere that encompasses IT, automotive, and new energy. As the brand shifted away completely from producing purely combustion engine vehicles, it has channeled its innovations toward the field of batteries and renewable energy solutions, encompassing major industries that include automotive, electronics, new energy, and rail transit. This is aligned toward reaching BYD’s ultimate vision: a world that is powered by sustainable, natural energy that is harnessed from the sun, wherein energy is stored and can be used for electric vehicle transportation by the public and private sectors, as well as for other social, commercial, and economic aspects.
Each BYD vehicle has three core technologies—battery, electric motor, and electric control. In the BYD line of Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles, it is known as DM-I Technology. “DM” stands for Dual Mode and “I” stands for Intelligent. The 1.5-liter engine acts as a 20-kilowatt power generator that powers the AC motor directly, while also charging the batteries. It can reach up to 22.7 km/L, while a full tank of gas can go more than 1,000 kilometers.
In its line of Battery Electric Vehicles, the brand introduced the BYD Blade Battery: an ultra-safe lithium iron-phosphate battery that was specifically developed to mitigate the safety concerns surrounding high-voltage EV batteries. BYD Blade batteries are shaped differently against conventional cylindrical batteries, with a thin blade-like profile. Through this design, batteries can act as part of the structural stability of the chassis, saving weight and promoting energy efficiency. The same shape enables better cooling and thermal management for the batteries, making it more stable in the long run.
As an expert in electric transport, BYD has gone beyond the consumer market to serve electric-powered equipment, with specialized forklifts that run on Lithium-Iron Phosphate batteries that take less than two hours to charge. It has also served some of the first local EV fleets to companies like MERALCO and DHL.
In the Philippines, the push for clearer regulations on the implementation of EVs on the road and the controlled establishment of charging stations has been a long-drawn battle, but not one that manufacturers are likely to give up on so easily. With the bill on electric vehicle regulations finally signed into law under Republic Act 11697, and volatile petrol prices reaching all-time highs, it is only a matter of time before the populace begins to fully embrace a transition into more sustainable transport options.
BYD Showroom at 1702 Dian Street corner Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue in Makati City. Interested parties who want to order the Dolphin, or any of their other EVs may contact their hotline at +63 8533 8888 or +63 917 795 0168.
Words by Gen Tiu
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