There is no better way to test a vehicle’s long-range capabilities than through real-world driving. As the Philippines continues to expand its charging network, two Filipino EV owners put this to the test, demonstrating that long-distance, fully electric travel across the country is already a practical reality.
For GAC owners Romel Emperado and Rommel Laranjo, taking their AION V cars across highway stretches and ferry links showed how seamlessly electric mobility fits into local road trips.
For Romel Emperado, embarking on a 1,492-kilometer journey spanning Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao was about testing real-world capability under everyday travel conditions. Traveling through Samar and Leyte, where public charging infrastructure is still developing, required some advance planning but no significant compromises.
“I wanted to share this with the EV community to banish fear and range anxiety,” Emperado shared. “People think a long-distance road trip like this is stressful, but it really wasn’t. I didn’t drive at night, so I wouldn’t have tiresome and sleepless nights. We just hung out at malls or slept at Airbnbs while the car charged.”
With a professional background in solar materials and tech, Emperado closely monitored his energy efficiency along the route. By relying on single pedal driving and regenerative braking, maintaining steady cruising speeds of 80–100 km/h, and driving in power saving mode, he recorded an impressive average efficiency of 13.9 kWh/100 km, beating conservative estimates by over 20%.
Beyond performance, the economic benefits were immediate. “Going from spending ₱9,000–₱10,000 ($160–$180) a month on diesel, to essentially free charging with my EVs made taking on this cross-country adventure a no-brainer,” he added.
Rommel Laranjo, another AION V owner, replacing a traditional diesel SUV with the AION V streamlined both his 34-kilometer daily commute and his family’s cross-island travels. Driving from Cebu to Mindanao via two RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off) ferry passages demonstrated how cleanly electric SUVs handle long travel days.
“As long as it fits your budget, an EV is just so practical,” Laranjo shared. “We used to spend up to ₱3,000 a week on fuel for our traditional cars, so switching to daily home charging, and supplementing it with our solar setup, made a huge difference. Driving all the way from Cebu to Mindanao proved that long trips are completely doable.”
Laranjo highlighted the vehicle’s idle efficiency during extended delays, such as waiting in line for ferry embarkation. With no internal combustion engine running, passengers can stay cool in the air-conditioned cabin without heavy power drain or exhaust fumes.
“The car is smooth and responsive with great pickup, and we still made it home with 36% battery to spare, even with the air conditioning running the entire day,” Laranjo noted, finishing his journey with 183 km of remaining range.
Recognizing the value of real-world driver feedback, Masato Katsumata, Chief Technology Officer of GAC International, said, “We are grateful to GAC owners for sharing their cross-country experiences. The AION V was designed around people’s real-world mobility needs, from everyday drives to longer journeys. Their trips across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao provide valuable insights beyond controlled test conditions, helping us continuously refine our vehicles for the way Filipino drivers actually travel.”
By combining home solar setups with convenient destination charging, Romel Emperado and Rommel Laranjo are showing fellow Filipino drivers how accessible, versatile, and rewarding electric mobility can be on any Philippine road. Their journeys reflect the spirit of the #LifeWithGAC campaign— real owners, real roads, and real experiences that show how GAC vehicles fit into everyday life.
