EV Solutions, the distributor of Tesla electric cars in the Philippines, argues that despite the vehicles’ high upfront costs, they are economical in the long run.
Rafael Calinisan, CEO of EV Solutions, stated that fully charging a Tesla Model 3 would cost around P600, significantly less than the thousands of pesos required to fill a gas tank.
“In the long run, it’s cheaper. It doesn’t have maintenance costs, no oil changes, no spark plugs,” Calinisan said in an interview with ANC.
The base model Tesla 3 distributed by EV Solutions starts at P4 million, notably higher than the $38,990 (P2.225 million at P57 to $1) price listed on Tesla’s website. Calinisan explained that the higher cost includes a solar power system and a fast-charging system installed in the buyer’s home.
Calinisan also expressed optimism about the future of electric vehicles in the Philippines, citing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s goal to make half of all vehicles on Philippine roads electric by 2040. “We’re hoping that the infrastructure for EVs will be there in the next couple of years,” he added.
