Fuel shock is doing what the marketing couldn’t

Fuel Shock Unpacking the Numbers Game at Gas Stations

As fuel prices continue to skyrocket in Metro Manila, gas stations are reso
resorting to manual measures to display prices on digital boards. This cris
crisis has significant implications for people's plans and highlights the n
need for a deeper understanding of the complex issues at play.

In this blog post, we will delve into what's behind the numbers game at gas
gas stations and explore how it's affecting people's lives. We'll also exam
examine the impact on electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids, which are gainin
gaining traction in a market that is contracting overall.

The Fuel Price Crisis

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s declaration of a National Energy Emergency
Emergency under Executive Order 110 underscores the severity of the situati
situation. Pump prices for diesel and gasoline have reached historic highs,
highs, exceeding P100 per liter. But what's more striking is how it's affec
affecting people's plans.

EVs Gain Momentum

Despite soft car sales in the first two months of 2026, EVs and hybrids buc
bucked the trend. According to joint data from Campi and TMA, electrified v
vehicle sales jumped by nearly 67% year-on-year to 5,701 units between Janu
January and February. Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) drove most of that vo
volume, while plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) saw a remarkable sur
surge.

People are drawn to the savings, but they're not yet willing to bet everyth
everything on finding a charging station.

The Problem of Charging Infrastructure

Filipinos are familiar with EVs and hybrids, but the practical reality of c
charging where you live remains a significant barrier. Purchase cost tops t
the list of barriers, followed by battery lifespan and replacement costs. C
Charging infrastructure compounds the problem, with Filipinos split down th
the middle on whether what's available today is sufficient.

The Deloitte Global Automotive Consumer Study found that most EV intenders 
want to charge at home, but only around one in eight has a dedicated reside
residential charger.

Closing the Gap

To bridge this gap, the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) has launched a
a dedicated green auto loan program for EVs and hybrids, offering lower rat
rates and longer repayment terms than standard car loans. This could help m
make electric vehicles more accessible to consumers.

Jeepney Operators Caught in the Squeeze

From the driver's seat of a traditional jeepney, none of this looks the sam
same. Thirty liters of diesel a day is what a standard unit needs to run, b
but at current prices, that's more than P3,000 gone before the driver sees 
a peso of profit. What actually lands in his pocket is reportedly P200 to P
P300, a far cry from the P500 to P700 he was taking home before the crisis.
crisis.

The Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program

This program aims to steer jeepney fleets toward cleaner, electric options.
options. However, it has been slow and expensive, and the crisis has made t
that slowness harder to accept.

Conclusion

Fuel prices are reshaping how Filipinos think about mobility. What was once
once routine becomes a daily calculation. The government's goal of 6.6 mill
million EV registrations by 2030 is ambitious, but consumer willingness may
may not be the obstacle.

Many Filipinos are already open to the idea, but a driver clearing P200 on 
a day that burned through P3,000 in diesel is not waiting on infrastructure
infrastructure timelines or financing programs. That gap between the versio
version of this transition that works and the version most Filipinos are ac
actually living needs bridging.

Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

Enjoy the little things in life. For one day, you may look back and realize they were the big things. Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.