Geothermal leader Energy Development Corporation (EDC) is taking its mission to forge collaborative pathways for a decarbonised and regenerative future a step further by using electric vehicles powered by the clean, renewable Geo 24/7 that it generates, a first not only in the Philippines but possibly in the Asia Pacific region.
Geo 24/7 is EDC’s own brand of geothermal energy that has been providing the country that much-needed clean, low-carbon power 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year round for over 40 years.
EDC is piloting the use of electric vehicles (EV) fueled by steam energy from the charging station that it built at its Tongonan Geothermal Power Plant in Kananga, Leyte, the company’s first-ever geothermal facility that also has the biggest wet steamfield in the world. The first of three Rich6EV 4x2 pickup trucks is already at the site while the two others will be made available in the first quarter of 2023 through its partner, Hong Equipment and Development(HEAD) Corporation.
These three initial EVs are part of EDC’s transport fleet from HEAD Corporation, its reliable equipment and service vehicle provider for over 30 years, and will be tested in EDC’s Leyte project site for six months to determine how many units should be added to its rented fleet not only in Leyte but also in all its facilities across the country.
“This electric vehicle symbolises our company’s over 30-year journey as a partner of EDC. It is the most modern model that can run for 300-400 kilometres when fully charged. More than just an electric vehicle, what makes it special is it is powered by geothermal, which makes it a 100 per cent renewable energy-powered vehicle. Others are powered by electricity that usually comes from carbon-intensive coal. This EV is the vehicle of the future. Thank you, EDC, for making this happen,” said William Hong, vice president for business development at HEAD Corporation.
EDC is likewise thankful to HEAD Corporation for readily committing to make this dream of using EVs a reality and for saying yes to the testing phase that will allow both parties to learn more about the cost savings, avoided carbon emissions, and also the challenges of using them.
“We have been searching for a partner that offers the best deal for our shift to electric vehicles and we found one in HEAD Corporation,” said Gloria Amboy, EDC’s supply chain head for Indirect Category and program manager for the company’s EV project.
Amboy confirmed that EDC is also looking at renting electric buses that will shuttle its employees to its project sites and put up EV charging stations in its host city, starting off with Ormoc City in Leyte.
“Our long term goal is to roll out this project in all EDC sites across the country. After all, what we want is to continuously be true and consistent with our mission to have a decarbonised future,” added Amboy.
EDC’s 711-megawatt Leyte geothermal facility currently supplies more than 30 per cent of the country’s installed geothermal capacity. It is also responsible for putting the Philippines on the map as the world’s 3rd largest geothermal producer and has been providing a reliable supply of clean power to the Luzon and Visayas regions for almost 40 years.
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