DAGUPAN CITY (PIA) – As part of its commitment to environmental preservation and supporting a green future, the SM City Urdaneta Central, in partnership with Panthera Enterprises Corporation, launched its two Electric Vehicle (e-Vehicle) Charging Station on Friday, September 15 at the mall’s Basement Parking in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan.
The e-vehicle charging station, a device that seeks to promote zero emissions of carbon, connects the electric vehicle to a power source to recharge it with a charging capacity of up to 7.4 kilowatts (kW) and supports the following e-vehicle models: Audi, BWM, Fiat, Ford, GMC, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Volkswagen, among others.
Abraham Malicdem, mall manager of SM City Urdaneta Central, said in an interview that the first e-vehicle charging station in Pangasinan is a free service to interested clients for one year and is open from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. for a maximum of two hours per car on a “first come, first served” basis.
“We will add more chargers later on depending on the needs of the motorists; we are pushing green practices of private enterprises nationwide,” he said, adding that SM malls in Dagupan City and Rosales town will soon have their e-vehicle charging stations as well.
Meanwhile, Department of Energy (DOE) Director Renante Sevilla commended SM City Urdaneta Central for taking the initiative to set up the e-charging station in the province as it helped address national concerns on air pollution while reducing carbon footprints.
“We are promoting itong technology na ito kasi in a way, solusyon ito sa pagtaas ng presyo ng gasolina,” he said in an interview. He also added that the country already has a 10% capacity for the e-vehicle industry.
Sevilla said they will work with automobile dealers and companies to support the government’s renewable energy policy.
He also said that DOE Luzon is developing a comprehensive plan for the e-vehicle industry that would serve as a reference on how to promote and use green energy more effectively. (JCR/MJTAB/JCDR/PIA Pangasinan)
