Grab Philippines and BYD Cars Philippines are jointly exploring the feasibility of using electric vehicles (EVs) in ride-hailing.
In an update, Grab said the partnership between Grab and BYD Cars Philippines paves the way for a future of greener ride-hailing in the Philippines.
Grab will use the BYD Dolphin for ride-hailing
The pilot study will run for one month and will closely follow the experience of a contingent of Grab driver-partners testing out the BYD Dolphin. It will examine key operational and economic implications of using EVs as TNVS vehicles.
Through the analysis of collected data on total distance covered, battery efficiency, and their impact on the earning capacity and overall productivity of driver-partners, Grab and BYD Cars Philippines aim to offer valuable insights to transport stakeholders.
Greener mobility
Their goal is to help navigate the path toward greener mobility options in digital ride-hailing, while exploring potential cost-effective and profit-maximizing alternatives to conventional fuel-combusting vehicles.
Grab Philippines head of mobility EJ Dela Vega said: “Grab is fully dedicated to achieving carbon neutrality by 2040 and critical to this is the inclusion of low or zero-emission vehicles in our fleet. Through this pilot study, we aim to formulate strategic recommendations around the effective integration of electric vehicles in ride-hailing fleets as we proactively co-engineer a more sustainable Philippine mobility ecosystem with all transport stakeholders.”
Reducing carbon footprint in Southeast Asia
In the Grab ESG Report 2023, it was revealed that the leading superapp in Southeast Asia was able to reduce ~71,000 tCO2e through the use of low and zero-emission transport options. Still, several key factors must be considered in the shift to sustainable mobility, including charging infrastructure, public awareness and adoption, and regulatory frameworks.
Toti Zara, Head of Retail & Distribution of ACMobility, Ayala’s automotive and mobility infrastructure group, is confident that the joint pilot study with Grab is a significant stride toward addressing these challenges. He views this collaboration as a crucial step in paving the way to the electrification of local ride-hailing.
“The results of these end-to-end trials will help us create an ecosystem-wide approach to accelerating the adoption of sustainable mobility in our country. We are glad to be pioneering this landmark study with Grab, who share our passion for safe and efficient transportation that is friendlier to our environment,” Zara said.
Photo credit: Grab Philippines website.
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