The ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East has affected global oil prices and distribution, which led to volatile and rising commodity costs, most particularly fuel prices, in many countries. Unfortunately the Philippines is one of the nations affected by this. In an effort to help Filipinos save money, VinFast Philippines is offering an extended free electric vehicle (EV) charging program designed to reduce the cost of EV ownership.
The program covers free EV charging at VinFast’s V-Green charging stations until March 31, 2029, and applies to both new and existing VinFast customers, including private owners and those using the vehicles for transport services. According to VnFast, the Philippines is not the only country in its coverage that benefits from this support rollout, as it also extends the program to such regions as Vietnam, Indonesia, and India.
The initiative comes as fuel prices continue to rise, placing additional strain on motorists who rely on traditional internal combustion engines (ICE) for daily use. By removing charging costs, VinFast aims to make EVs a more predictable and cost-efficient mobility alternative.
Data shared by VinFast highlights the potential savings. For example, the VF 6 Plus consumes around 155.5 kWh over a typical 1,200 km/month usage. At standard electricity rates, this would translate to about P2,150 in monthly charging costs, or roughly P77,000 over three years. With its free EV charging program, that expense is eliminated entirely.
In comparison, a similarly sized gasoline-powered vehicle consuming 6.5 L/100 km would require 78 liters of fuel monthly. At current fuel prices, this results in approximately P5,090 in monthly expenses. This calculation, VinFast claims, is significantly higher than EV charging costs even before applying incentives.
The same pattern applies across VinFast Philippines’ lineup. Highlighting the VF 5, the company said the small electric crossover would typically cost around P1,890 per month to charge, while a comparable gasoline vehicle could reach about P5,300 in fuel expenses. VinFast added that the VF 3 small SUV further reduces energy consumption, with monthly charging costs estimated at around P1,440 before incentives.
On top of the free EV charging, VinFast is also offering a limited-time “Trade Gas for Electric” program, providing a 3% discount to customers looking to switch from ICE vehicles to its EV models. The promo runs until March 31, 2026.
Autocar’s Take
A few weeks into the ongoing Middle East war, and the Philippines is already feeling its adverse effects in the form of rising fuel prices, adding burden to vehicle ownership. VinFast’s free EV charging program is a timely initiative that frames the rising fuel cost and ICE vehicle ownership expenses in a way that may encourage more car buyers to switch to electrified mobility.
By comparing fuel consumption and expenses of ICE vehicles vs. EV charging costs, VinFast has given context as to how its program helps Filipino drivers stand against fuel price hike and experience better vehicle ownership by switching to EVs. This is the most effective approach, rather than just announcing the promo outright and leaving it hanging. This way, the program can be understood more clearly. By removing charging expenses entirely, the brand simplifies ownership in a way that is easy to understand and quantify.
Free EV charging is a strong incentive, but it works best when paired with convenience, meaning the long-term success of this strategy will still depend on charging infrastructure accessibility and vehicle pricing – things that the local EV industry is still working on. In the current environment of rising fuel costs, this move still makes EV ownership significantly more attractive for practical, cost-conscious buyers.
