ACMobility is expanding its electric vehicle (EV) charging network in the Visayas with the opening of Bohol’s first publicly accessible EV charging hub, located at the new Kia dealership in Tagbilaran City.
The facility gives EV owners and visitors another place to charge their vehicles on the island, adding Bohol to the growing Philippine EV infrastructure network. It features two 7-kilowatt AC chargers that are accessible to the public through Evro, ACMobility’s partner EV charging application.
Beyond providing charging access, the company sees the installation as an important step toward encouraging EV ownership in Bohol and supporting the development of additional charging facilities across the island.
Carla Buencamino, head of Mobility Infrastructure at ACMobility, described Bohol as an important connector within the Philippine EV Spine, the company’s nationwide charging network.
She said the new facility, together with the opening of its partner Kia dealership, would help make electric mobility more accessible to Bohol residents and visitors while contributing to the local economy.
Louise Camille Lumapas, Kia Philippines dealer principal, also highlighted the importance of making charging infrastructure available to prospective EV buyers.
According to Lumapas, having the island’s first EV charging station at Kia Bohol removes one of the concerns that could discourage people from considering an electric vehicle: knowing where to charge it.
She added that the availability of charging infrastructure gives consumers greater freedom of choice, regardless of fluctuations in fuel prices.
Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Yap welcomed the development, saying the charging hub could help boost tourism and encourage more visitors to explore the island using electric vehicles.
Bohol, recognized as the Philippines’ first UNESCO Global Geopark for its geological and cultural importance, could benefit from infrastructure that supports more environmentally responsible mobility.
Yap said the project reflects Tagbilaran’s ambition to become a progressive, innovative and environmentally responsible city. She also believes the facility could encourage investment and give both residents and tourists greater confidence in using EVs around the island.
The Bohol opening forms part of ACMobility’s continuing expansion across the Visayas. The company says its Philippine EV Spine network currently covers more than 240 charging locations, with over 600 charging points nationwide.
As charging infrastructure reaches more destinations outside major urban centers, developments such as this could help address one of the practical considerations surrounding EV adoption in the Philippines: access to convenient charging facilities when traveling beyond established metropolitan areas.
Autocar’s Take
Bohol’s first public EV charging hub is a welcome development, particularly for an island that depends heavily on tourism. While two 7-kW AC chargers may seem modest, establishing a publicly accessible charging location is an important starting point. EV adoption does not happen simply because more electric vehicles become available; people also need confidence that they can charge them outside major cities.
This is where developments such as ACMobility’s Bohol facility matter. The next challenge for the Ayala-led company is expanding coverage across the island, ensuring that EV owners have more charging options as electric mobility gradually finds its place in provincial communities.
