Albenya Portia Saw (center), EDC’s Leyte facilities administration and environment services head, receives from William Hong (2nd from left), HEAD Corporation’s VP for business development, the key of the first EV in the country to be powered by geothermal energy. Also in photo are George Hong, HEAD Corporation president and CEO (leftmost); Gloria Amboy, EDC’s supply chain management-indirect category head (4th from left); and Atty. Allan Barcena, EDC AVP and corporate relations and communications head (rightmost)Energy Development Corporation (EDC) is taking its mission to forge collaborative pathways for a decarbonized and regenerative future a step further by using electric vehicles powered by the clean, renewable Geo 24/7 energy that it generates.

Edc is piloting the use of electric vehicles (EVs) fueled by steam energy from the charging station that it built at its Tongonan Geothermal Power Plant in Kananga, Leyte.

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 Hong Equipment and Development (HEAD) Corporation, its equipment and service vehicle provider for over 30 years.

“This electric vehicle symbolizes our company’s over 30-year journey as a partner of EDC. It is the most modern model that can run for 300 to 400 kilometers when fully charged. More than just an electric vehicle, what makes it special is it is powered by geothermal, which makes it a 100% renewable energypowered vehicle,” said William Hong, vice president for business development at HEAD.

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 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.

EDC is also looking at renting electric buses that will shuttle its employees to its project sites and putting 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 decarbonized future,” added Amboy.
(Story/Photos by:Frances Ariola)