DOE issues new EV rules as 2025 registrations surge

The Department of Energy (DOE) has released updated guidelines to streamline the recognition and classification of electric vehicles (EVs) amid record-high registration numbers in 2025.

Outlined in Department Circular No. DC2025-09-0015, the new rules take effect on September 20, 2025, and revise the DOE’s 2023 policies to align fully with the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA).

The updated framework introduces clearer classifications for Battery EVs (BEVs), Hybrid EVs (HEVs), Plug-in Hybrid EVs (PHEVs), Light EVs (LEVs), Range-Extended EVs (REEVs), and Fuel Cell EVs (FCEVs).

To improve monitoring, all stakeholders must now submit the EV Charger Monitoring Form quarterly, enabling the DOE to maintain updated market data.

EVs that are no longer sold commercially will be removed from the Recognized EV List once reported, while promotional or non-marketing EVs may be issued provisional or non-marketing certificates.

The DOE will also conduct on-site inspections to validate submissions and ensure data integrity.

Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said the circular is a “critical step toward building a more organized, accessible, and future-ready EV market in the Philippines.”

Garin emphasized that the harmonized rules will reduce red tape, improve transparency, and help scale up EV adoption nationwide.

According to Land Transportation Office data, 29,715 EVs were registered from January to July 2025—already surpassing the 24,286 units registered in all of 2024.

EVs now account for nearly 5% of new vehicle registrations, marking a threefold increase from 2023 levels.

The DOE published the circular in the Official Gazette on September 5, 2025, with the full document available for public access on its official website.