GAC Aion V crosses Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao

Two Filipino electric vehicle owners have taken their GAC Aion V SUVs across major islands to test long-distance travel under local conditions.

One journey covered 1,492 kilometers across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Another brought the electric SUV from Cebu to Mindanao through two roll-on, roll-off ferry crossings.

GAC Aion V owner Romel Emperado travelled through Samar and Leyte, where the public charging network is still developing. He planned his charging stops around malls and overnight accommodations instead of driving late into the night.

Emperado used single-pedal driving, regenerative braking and the vehicle’s power-saving mode. He maintained cruising speeds of between 80 and 100 kilometers per hour.

The vehicle recorded an average energy consumption of 13.9 kilowatt-hours per 100 kilometers during the trip, according to Emperado.

He previously spent between P9,000 and P10,000 a month on diesel. Charging his electric vehicles through his home solar system has reduced that expense substantially.

Fellow Aion V owner Rommel Laranjo uses the SUV for a 34-kilometer daily commute. He also took the vehicle from Cebu to Mindanao, with the route requiring two RoRo ferry passages.

Laranjo said his family previously spent as much as P3,000 a week on fuel for their conventional vehicles. They now rely mainly on home charging supported by solar power.

The electric SUV also allowed its air-conditioning system to operate during long ferry queues without an internal combustion engine running. This eliminated tailpipe emissions while the vehicle waited for embarkation.

Laranjo arrived home with 36 percent of the battery charge available. The vehicle displayed an estimated remaining range of 183 kilometers despite operating its air-conditioning throughout the day.

Masato Katsumata, chief technology officer of GAC International, said feedback from owners provides information that cannot always be gathered through controlled vehicle testing.

“The Aion V was designed around people’s real-world mobility needs, from everyday drives to longer journeys,” Katsumata said.

The two trips also highlighted the role of route planning, destination chargers and home solar systems in reducing charging costs. They showed that inter-island electric travel is possible, although drivers may need to plan carefully in areas where public chargers are limited.

GAC International Philippines currently has 30 dealerships nationwide and offers vehicles under the GAC Motor, Aion and Hyptec brands.