Musings of an EV Novice: Paella, Small Cars, and Big Questions

By

 

A month ago, our regular get-together group—Cuatro Cantos—met for lunch at Delgado 112 in Westgate, Filinvest Alabang, to celebrate Pedy's birthday. It’s a brand-new Spanish-Filipino spot with a nice setup. We ordered paella negra and valenciana and bone marrow sisig; the food was okay, nothing spectacular. Pedy said he doubted he’d come back, and I can see why: to bring a customer back, a restaurant needs a true signature dish that makes you crave a return visit—like going to Talabar when you have a specific craving for fresh oysters.

Over lunch, Chito brought up electric cars. He reckons a pure EV is better than a hybrid because, according to his son-in-law's experience, gasoline sitting unused in a hybrid tank eventually goes stale.
After lunch, Chito had to head back to Makati to work, leaving Pedy, Roman, and me chatting outside. Since Pedy is interested in EVs, I pointed to the new VinFast dealer right beside the restaurant and suggested we drop in.
We checked out their tiny VF 3 micro-car,  newly dressed up and ready for delivery.  It looks perfect for tight city traffic and parking, but I asked Roman how something that small would handle big trucks on the expressway. Roman pointed out that even a Suzuki Jimny sways on the highway when big vehicles rush past so an ultra-small EV might feel a bit nimble at high speeds. Then came the pricing: around Php 590,000 without the battery, plus a monthly battery subscription fee, or Php 745,000 if you buy the battery outright.
That short visit got me curious, and over the next few days, I got sucked into an endless online maze of EV videos on YouTube and shared posts on Viber and Messenger. The more I read, the more skeptical I became. One YouTuber mentioned losing over half his EV’s value in just three years, and as a potential second-hand buyer, who would want to pay top moolah for a car with an aging, expensive battery? Then I came across a piece about BYD’s "8-in-1" sealed drive component, where if one little internal part fails, you supposedly have to swap out the entire unit. For us Pinoys who take pride in being tipid and finding an ingenious neighborhood mechanic who can fix almost anything, replacing an entire sealed module feels completely foreign. On top of that, running the air conditioner continuously in Manila's tropical heat and carrying a full load of passengers will definitely eat into that advertised battery mileage faster than the brochures claim.
That said, the local perks are quite tempting. EVs enjoy lower taxes and are exempt from number coding in the Philippines, which is a massive convenience for daily driving, but only until 2030.
Walking away from Westgate that afternoon, I couldn't help but wonder. EVs are fascinating, but for an ordinary driver on the outside, plenty of question marks remain. As for Pedy, who’s been eyeing them for a while—did our quick dealership tour bring him any closer to leaping? Is he actually buying one?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"USAP TAYO"

By
  Social media is full of advice on how to grow old—how to “age properly.” Stay active. Pick up hobbies. Keep moving. And yes, for those who still have their health, that advice makes sense. Many do exactly that, and it’s a good thing. But I find myself thinking about what comes after that—when the strength is no longer there. I see it twice a week during my morning walks. In our village, along the route I take, there’s a man named Jimmy. Frail, quiet, and almost always alone. Each time I pass, he sits on a small stool on a narrow strip of pavement, shaded by a makeshift umbrella and a line of trees. Just sitting. One morning, he called out to me: “Pagbalik mo, usap tayo.” (When you come back, let’s talk.) So I did. He told me his story. He is 88 now, once an executive at a travel agency. He still speaks clearly, thoughtfully. A newspaper rests on his lap, more for company than for reading. He used to meet a group of seniors for coffee every morning at McDonald’s. That h...
Read more

Minalin Rising: Discovering the Filipino-Spanish Charm of Minalin Sunset Park

By
  Hello from the heart of Pampanga! As a proud native of Minalin, I’ve watched our town steadily grow, and nothing symbolizes our progress and resilience quite like the magnificent Minalin Sunset Park . It’s more than just a park—it’s a living testament to Minalin’s unique spirit and a must-visit destination for anyone exploring Central Luzon. The Minalin-Sto. Tomas Tail Dike: Our New Lifeline and Gateway In a twist of fate, the very infrastructure built to protect us has become our key to growth! Before the Tail Dike, Minalin was a more isolated town. Today, the dike itself functions as the most accessible road to Minalin, connecting us to our neighbors and the wider region. Thanks to this transformed dike road, reaching Minalin is remarkably easy: From San Fernando City: You can reach Minalin in as little as 15 minutes . From Angeles City: The trip takes less than an hour . From the West (Bataan/Zambales): Visitors can now access Minalin ...
Read more

After Christmas, Reflections into the New Year

By
  It’s official—the Christmas season of 2025 has come to a close. Little by little, the decorations are taken down and stored away. Our Christmas tree now stands bare, its finery stripped away much like a woman removing her “gargantilyas” after a grand, elegant evening. The Christmas lights, nativity scenes, and nutcracker dolls are now carefully packed for another year. Knowing us Filipinos, they will surely be welcomed back as early as September, right on cue with the first notes of Jose Mari Chan’s carols. For me, this past season was defined by fellowship and friendship. I followed my tradition of meeting with three different groups of friends, where the air was filled with jokes, laughter, and the latest news. We even achieved our goal of dining in various Michelin-starred and Michelin-selected restaurants—a wonderful culinary highlight to the year. Our Rotary Club Christmas party was another standout. While we are united in service, it is the warm fellowship that truly makes ...
Read more