Public EV Charging Networks and Costs in the Philippines
If you drive an electric vehicle (battery electric vehicle, or BEV) in the Philippines, most of your charging will happen at home, but knowing the public charging options matters for longer trips and for the days you cannot plug in at home. This guide explains who runs the main public charging networks, what public charging costs per kWh, and where charging is still free. Public charging is billed by energy delivered (per kWh), so the cost depends on your car and how much you add. Because rates and free-charging promotions change, every figure on this page is dated and cited from the operator's own announcements and reputable Philippines motoring sources; always check the network's app for the current price at your station before you plug in. To work out the cost for your own car and battery percentage, use the charging cost calculator on this site.
By mht-dev, Frontend Engineer & Creator
A frontend engineer who bought a first electric car in March 2026 and built EV Charge Calculator while working out the real cost of charging it, writing every guide from an everyday new EV owner's perspective.
The main public charging networks
The dominant public-charging operator in the Philippines is ACMobility, which distributes BYD and Kia and runs the largest public charger network in the country. As of 2026-05-30, it is the network most EV drivers will encounter first, and it is the operator whose published rates this site uses as the reference for public charging. Source: ACMobility (acmobility.ph), as of 2026-05-30.
Charging on the ACMobility network is found and paid for through the EVRO app, the company's e-mobility platform. The app lets you locate a charger, start and stop a session, and settle payment, so a working smartphone is part of the public-charging routine here. Source: ACMobility (acmobility.ph) and autodeal.com.ph, as of 2026-05-30.
Coverage is widening through an ACMobility and Shell partnership that is installing DC fast chargers at 50 Shell stations nationwide, with about 20 rolling out in 2025 and about 30 in 2026, each delivering roughly 60 to 120 kW of DC power. That brings fast charging to fuel-station forecourts along major routes, which is useful on longer drives between cities. Sources: ACMobility "Charge Forward" (acmobility.ph) and Shell PH (shell.com.ph), as of 2026-05-30.
What public charging costs
ACMobility moved to a paid-charging model with published per-kWh rates. In the National Capital Region (NCR), the rates are around PHP 28.50 per kWh for AC charging and around PHP 35 per kWh for DC fast charging, effective 12 December 2024. These are the firmest public figures available, but they are NCR rates: the price can vary by site and can change over time, so treat them as a reference rather than a fixed national tariff. Sources: ACMobility "Implements Paid Charging Model" (acmobility.ph) and autocar.com.ph, as of 2026-05-30.
Public charging is billed by the energy delivered (per kWh), so what you pay scales with how much charge you add rather than how long you are plugged in. On top of the per-kWh energy charge, some networks add idle or overstay fees, or a per-session service fee, when a car stays parked at a charger after it has finished. As of 2026-05-30 those extra fees are not cleanly published as fixed peso amounts, so check the EVRO app or the relevant network's app for the current fee at your station rather than assuming a number. Source: ACMobility (acmobility.ph), as of 2026-05-30.
The practical takeaway is that public DC fast charging is meaningfully more expensive per kWh than charging at home, which is why home charging remains the cheaper everyday habit for most owners in the Philippines and public DC is best kept for trips and top-ups. The exact figures depend on your car and electricity rate. The rate table below shows the dated public AC and DC rates this site uses, and the charging cost calculator on this site works out the cost for your own car, battery percentage, and tariff so you do not have to estimate it by hand.
Charging rates and sources
| Tariff | Rate per kWh | Source | As of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meralco residential (all-in) | ₱14.33 | Meralco May 2026 residential advisory (company.meralco.com.ph) | 2026-05-25 |
| Public AC charging | ₱25.00 | topgear.com.ph / acmobility.ph published rates | 2026-05-25 |
| Public DC fast charging | ₱33.00 | DOE / topgear.com.ph / acmobility.ph published rates | 2026-05-25 |
Rates updated 2026-05-25
Free and special charging options
Not all public charging in the Philippines is paid. As reported on 2026-04-22, SM Supermalls offer free charging at mall charging stations, using a mix of DC and AC chargers, which makes a mall stop a low-cost way to top up while you shop. Free-charging offers like this can change, so treat this as reported on that date and check the current terms at the mall before relying on it. Source: topgear.com.ph, as of 2026-04-22.
VinFast owners have a brand-specific perk: as reported on 2026-04-22, the V-Green network offers complimentary charging for VinFast owners nationwide for a limited promotional period, reported to run through early 2029. This is a time-limited promotion tied to the VinFast brand rather than an open free network, so confirm the current terms with V-Green before counting on it for your trips. Source: topgear.com.ph and V-Green PH, as of 2026-04-22.
One side note for completeness: Tesla has a presence in the Philippines, but it is grey-import oriented, with no official Tesla distributor in the country. That makes Tesla and any Tesla-specific charging a limited, niche option here rather than a mainstream choice, and it is not part of the public networks most EV drivers will use day to day. For the typical buyer, the ACMobility network, the Shell fast chargers, and the free mall stations above are the realistic public-charging picture in the Philippines.
Sources and further reading
ACMobility, "Implements Paid Charging Model" and "Charge Forward" announcements, plus the network and EVRO app information (covers the NCR AC and DC rates, the EVRO app, and the Shell fast-charger rollout; as of 2026-05-30): https://acmobility.ph.
autocar.com.ph and autodeal.com.ph, reporting on the ACMobility paid-charging rates and the EVRO app (as of 2026-05-30): https://www.autocar.com.ph and https://www.autodeal.com.ph.
topgear.com.ph, reporting on free SM Supermalls charging and the VinFast V-Green complimentary-charging promotion (as of 2026-04-22): https://www.topgear.com.ph.
Shell PH, for the ACMobility and Shell DC fast-charger partnership at Shell stations (as of 2026-05-30): https://www.shell.com.ph. Always check each operator's own app or page for the live rate, idle or service fees, and current free-charging terms before you charge, since these change over time.
Frequently asked questions
How much does public EV charging cost in the Philippines?
- On the ACMobility network in the National Capital Region (NCR), public charging is around PHP 28.50 per kWh for AC and around PHP 35 per kWh for DC fast charging, effective 12 December 2024. These are NCR reference rates that can vary by site and change over time, and some networks add idle or service fees on top, so check the EVRO app for the live price at your station. Public charging is billed per kWh delivered, so your total depends on how much energy you add. The dated rates this site uses are in the rate table above, and the charging cost calculator on this site works out the cost for your own car, battery percentage, and tariff. Source: ACMobility (acmobility.ph) and autocar.com.ph, as of 2026-05-30.
What is the main public charging network in the Philippines?
- ACMobility is the dominant public-charging operator, distributing BYD and Kia and running the largest public charger network in the country, as of 2026-05-30. You locate and pay for sessions through its EVRO app. Its coverage is expanding through an ACMobility and Shell partnership installing DC fast chargers at 50 Shell stations nationwide, about 20 in 2025 and about 30 in 2026, each roughly 60 to 120 kW. Sources: ACMobility (acmobility.ph), autodeal.com.ph, and Shell PH (shell.com.ph), as of 2026-05-30.
Is there free EV charging in the Philippines?
- Yes, in some places, but treat free charging as a promotion and check the current terms before relying on it. As reported on 2026-04-22, SM Supermalls offer free charging at mall charging stations using a mix of DC and AC chargers, and the VinFast V-Green network offers complimentary charging for VinFast owners nationwide for a limited promotional period reported to run through early 2029. Both are subject to change, so confirm the latest terms with the mall or with V-Green. Sources: topgear.com.ph and V-Green PH, as of 2026-04-22.