3,300 km in 20 days: How BYD Cars Philippines completed epic journey in electric vehicle

From 24 February to 15 March, BYD Cars Philippines took on an unprecedented undertaking: to travel from north to south Philippines in an electric vehicle as well as a plug-in hybrid vehicle.

And that's not all. The itinerary included over 60 cities and over 30 municipalities. In addition, the travel included three ferry trips to cover three main island groups - Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The result? Cumulative distance of 3,312.2 km and Guinness World Records titles for the most cities visited in a continuous journey by a battery-powered electric vehicle and most cities visited in a continuous journey by a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.

With a partnership between ACMobility, BYD Cars Philippines, and the Department of Tourism, the team wanted to prove that electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles are not just for short city trips, but also confident in handling longer trips.

For the epic journey and record attempt, the team had chosen the BYD eMAX 7 electric MPV and BYD Shark 6 DMO pick up. As the trip encompassed all kinds of road conditions - from highways, urban roads, mountain passes, and provincial cities - they wanted something that was reliable. The two models have phenomenal battery longevity and reliability over long drives, as well as chassis that can handle real-world Philippine driving conditions with ease.

Read more stories like this in our Science and Technology section.

Infrastructure was also on their side: there are now over 200+ ACMobility's EV Charging Hubs across the country, making a nationwide road trip possible.

Still, covering a huge distance in less than a month means meticulous planning is a must. In addition to choosing the right route to visit over 100 cities, the team also had to think about road conditions, weather patterns, and logistical constraints. In particular, the timing has to be spot on to catch ferries on time.

During the trip, the team rediscovered the great diversity the Philippines has to offer — from dense urban centres to remote provinces, coastal roads, mountain routes, and cultural landmarks. They also witnessed curiosity and support from local communities during the trip.

People approached the convoy at charging stations, dealerships, hotels, and roadside stops to ask questions about electric vehicles, charging, and how the journey was being accomplished. Many were surprised to learn that the vehicles had already travelled across multiple islands.

After the successful 22-day journey travelling through 102 cities, the team not only felt fulfillment with an amazing achievement, but also felt that the public perception of electrified mobility had shifted: it is no longer a future concept but a practical reality that Filipinos can already experience today.

Read more about their journey here: https://www.driveelectriclovepinas.com/