LIST: Ride-hailing apps that offer EV car service
The green revolution is thriving in the transportation industry, with a growing number of private and public utility vehicle owners opting to go electric or hybrid over fuel-powered rides. According to data from the Land Transportation Office, over 29,000 EV units were registered as of July; a number the agency is projecting to reach the 35,000 mark by year's end.
Ride-hailing apps available in the country are adding EVs to their fleet, as well. Here are some of them:
Grab
After over 10 years of operating in the Philippines, Grab rolled out GrabTaxi Electric—a fully electric fleet of vehicles serviced by BYD.
The service is currently available in Parañaque, Pasay, Taguig, Makati, Mandaluyong, and Pasig. Within the year, Grab will be extending this service in regional cities, such as Davao and Cagayan De Oro.
To book a ride, select "GrabTaxi" on the Grab app, then choose Electric Taxi, if it is available. Unlike regular Grab rides where cash payments are accepted, the only modes of payment available for GrabTaxi Electric are via GrabPay, your in-app wallet, or a credit card.
For reference, a standard GrabCar ride from One Ayala to SM Mall of Asia costs P239. Meanwhile, the Electric Taxi ride ranges from P244 to 292.
To book an Electric Taxi, enter your pick-up and drop off location per usual. Then, tap on Standard Car and toggle the Electric taxi option under Taxi (metered fare).
Green GSM
An all-electric taxi service launched in early June, Green GSM boasts “green vehicles and eco-friendly by design” on its website. A Vietnam-owned company, Green GSM’s fleet is served by VinFast EVs.
There are three ways to book a Green GSM (green and smart mobility) EV: through the app, through their hotline (02-7777 8080), and, if you chance upon an available unit, by flagging down one of their teal-colored taxis on the road.
Green GSM uses a taxi meter system, which calculates fares based on the distance traveled and duration of the ride. Because of this, fares for rides during off-peak hours can often be cheaper than those that use different pricing models. However, if caught in heavy traffic, riding a Green GSM taxi may end up costing more than a standard booking with other ride-hailing apps.
A ride from One Ayala to SM MoA will range from P140 to P174.83.
Xpress
Filipino company Xpress, still new in the ride-hailing scene, aims to have a fully electric fleet by 2030. In the last week of Sept., the ride-hailing app launched Xpress EV Taxis in BGC and Makati. With brand-new BYD units, the service promises to charge affordable fares "with no surge pricing." The company will not raise its fares during rush hour.
The Cebuana Lhullier subsidiary is also preparing to launch EV Bikes soon in its bid to build a complete green mobility network.
Another point of pride for the company is its drivers being salaried. Each one goes through a two-week training program, which includes learning emergency response techniques from the Red Cross and service excellence practices from the Department of Tourism.
Apart from its taxi services, Xpress also offers parcel delivery services. Coming soon are Eats (food delivery), Mart (one-stop online shopping), and XPay (an online payment platform).
InDrive
Following successful launches of its EV fleet in India, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Thailand, InDrive is taking the regional approach in the Philippines. In Sept., it brought 100 EVs to Baguio. By 2026, the company is aiming to have 1,000 EV cars plying more roads in the country; its potential target for expansion next year is Metro Manila.
InDrive is also using artificial intelligence solutions to make its rides safer and more efficient.
Lalamove
This year, Lalamove launched Lalamove Ride in greater Manila area, Pampanga, and Cebu. It is studying expansion plans in Central Luzon and CALABARZON regions. The initiative gave the app a dual purpose: to offer on-demand delivery services and to serve as a ride-hailing platform.
While EV services are still not available for the ride-hailing offerings of the app, delivery drivers with EVs and hybrids can now register with Lalamove. The company is still in the process of launching pilot programs to test the widespread use of EVs for the delivery and ride-hailing segments.
