DTI partners with METI to advance EV tech in the Philippines | Department of Trade and Industry Philippines

Makati City, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) spearheaded a conference accelerate the adoption of standardized electronic vehicle (EV) battery and charging systems in the Philippines.

Through the DTI’s Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) in collaboration with the Japan Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the conference leveraged Japan’s leading EV technology to bolster the Philippines’ EV product quality and bolster the local battery industry.

“International collaboration is essential in harmonizing EV battery standards, especially regarding safety,” said DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque.

“With the growing consumer demand for electric vehicles in the country and our vision of establishing a more sustainable transportation system, the DTI under Bagong Pilipinas remains committed to ensuring that our EV industry meets the highest quality and safety standards. This dedication not only protects consumers but also fosters a market that is competitive, sustainable, and attractive to both domestic and international investors” she added.

The first day of the conference convened Engineer Avelino T. Molina Jr. of the DTI-BPS, the Department of Energy (DOE), the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (eVAP), and Hiroshi Nakayama of Japan Automobile Research Institute (JARI), to discuss the existing standardization activities in the Philippines and Japan.

Meanwhile, Takahiko Miki of JARI, Engineer Von G. Villaruel of the DTI-BPS, Director Patrick T. Aquino of the DOE, Tomomi Hakomori of CHAdeMO, Hiroyuki Takahashi of Yamaha Motor Philippines, and Kentaro Ikegami of Honda, further addressed the developments in international standards for light electric vehicles charging infrastructure.

The second day of the forum featured Tsushima Manabu of TOYOTA Motor Corporation and Dr. Jose Bienvenido Manuel M. Biona of EVAP, who led the session on EV battery.

To add to these discussions, Nakayama and Gotoh of JARI, and Hakomori of CHAdeMO enriched the conference with presentations on EV testing methods, certification schemes, and battery and charger standards implementation.

The conference concluded with a question-and-answer session that fostered a valuable exchange of insights on battery repurposing and recommendations for the regulation and standardization of EV batteries in the Philippines.

“We in the DTI-Fair Trade Group express our sincere appreciation to our Japanese partners for sharing valuable insights on the most recent technologies and strategies. This knowledge transfer will empower local manufacturers and industries and ultimately advance the Philippine EV sector,” said Assistant Secretary Agaton Teodoro O. Uvero.

Under Republic Act 11697 or the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act, the DTI-BPS supports the EV industry by developing and adopting international standards for EV batteries and charging systems. The BPS has published standards for EV components and equipment, such as the Philippine National Standards (PNS) International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61851, 61980, and 62196 series.

Additionally, the Bureau has established standards for lithium-ion batteries, particularly the PNS International Organization for Standardization 12405-4 and the PNS IEC 62660, as well as the guidelines for battery repurposing like the PNS Underwriters Laboratory 1974.

The BPS also implements product certification schemes for charging stations and related equipment to ensure the safety and quality of EV infrastructure.

Official copies of promulgated PNS are available for a minimal fee at the DTI Main Office. For inquiries, email bps@dti.gov.ph or call (02) 7791.3127. ♦

Date of release: 19 October 2024

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