Shell to deploy Sun Mobility battery swapping tech in the Philippines

Sun Mobility, the leading provider of energy infrastructure and services for electric vehicles (EVs), has signed a strategic agreement with the Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation. The partnership will explore the pilot deployment of Sun Mobility’s advanced battery-swapping technology in the Philippines for electric two- and three-wheelers.

The partnership supports the recently passed Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA) that aims to promote sustainable electric transportation in the Philippines. The partners aim to accelerate the adoption of EVs in the Philippines by providing a practical and economical solution with zero tailpipe emissions.

Battery swap in less than two minutes
For this pilot project, select Shell Mobility stations will soon deploy Swap Points that leverage Sun Mobility’s interoperable battery-swapping technology comprising smart batteries, quick interchange stations, and smart network (cloud-based IoT backend software). This will enable electric two- and three-wheelers to swap batteries at select Shell mobility stations in less than two minutes and provide a cost-effective solution with significant range. The pilot is expected to launch within the first half of 2023.

Jolo Valdez, E-Mobility and Innovations Manager for Pilipinas Shell said: “Shell is happy to work with both the private and public sectors to develop solutions that will decarbonise mobility and transport. Both two-wheel and three-wheel EVs are projected to be a major use case for logistics companies and other fleet operators in the coming decades, and this pilot deployment aims to test the feasibility of smart battery swapping services and technology for the Philippine B2B use case. We are also happy to receive support from our government agencies to test these new technologies and solutions.” 

According to Department of Energy-Energy Utilization Management Bureau (DOE-EUMB) Director Patrick Aquino, “The pilot deployment and its success will definitely be a pathfinder for similar technologies and solutions in the EV space. We hope these new solutions will encourage more businesses and drivers to switch to electric vehicles.” 

Dr. Rafaelita Aldaba, Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary for Competitiveness and Innovation, said that the pilot deployment of Sun Mobility and Shell “will be a pioneer for smart battery swapping in the Philippines. We are looking forward to see how this can enable and support EV adoption and possibly even EV parts manufacturing in the country.”

Ajay Goel, co-founder and executive director of Sun Mobility said, “Sun Mobility is proud to collaborate with Pilipinas Shell to explore the mass adoption of EVs across the region, starting with the Philippines. In the future, we intend to bring our industry-leading technology along with our substantial on-ground experience after having deployed 250-plus Swap Points in 18 cities across India, powering over 55 million kilometres and around 3 million swaps so far.” 

During the signing ceremony, Randy Del Valle, Pilipinas Shell’s vice-president and general manager for Mobility, commented: “Shell supports EV adoption in the country. We are already a global leader in the EV space, and we are optimistic that working with Sun Mobility will unlock practical, economical, and convenient EV solutions specific to the needs of the Philippine market.”