BYD Cars Philippines, Department of Tourism, and ACMobility recently launched their landmark “Drive Electric. Love Pinas.” campaign with an epic convoy of electric vehicles traveling across the islands of the Philippines.
For many Filipinos, driving an electric vehicle still feels like a glimpse of the future. Questions linger: What happens when the battery runs low? What if there’s no charging station nearby? These are all valid concerns that the “Drive Electric. Love Pinas.” campaign recently put to rest. A landmark partnership between the Department of Tourism, BYD Cars Philippines, and ACMobility, the campaign brought to life with an ambitious road trip starting in the dunes of Ilocos Norte and culminating in a festive celebration in General Santos City.
Spanning over 102 cities and municipalities across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, the convoy redefined what long-distance travel across the Philippines can look like. It blended endurance with exploration, showing that electric mobility isn’t just a concept, but a future that is very much here.
READ ALSO: Going Electric: The Road To An EV Future In The Philippines
From Sand Dunes To Summits
Led by Will Dasovich in a BYD Shark 6 DMO, the “Drive Electric. Love Pinas” campaign kicked off against the backdrop of the La Paz Sand Dunes in Laoag, Ilocos Norte. Though adrenaline ran high, it was only the beginning. The fleet made its way south through Pagudpud and then up the steep ridges of Baguio, putting the electric vehicle’s capabilities to the test. Along the route, charging hubs ensured that the fleet stayed powered through ACMobility’s nationwide Philippine EV Spine, a network that served as the journey’s backbone, delivering reliable energy at every stop.
With batteries topped and engines humming, the convoy made its way through Northern Luzon, reaching Pampanga for a well-earned cultural and culinary pause. Joined by food content creator Kuya Kurt, they explored the heritage-rich Tutulari Avatar Gorge, unique for its natural green walls and paths, before dining at Bale Dutung Pampanga. Along the way, the team leaned on the BYD Shark 6 DMO’s Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology to power their gear off-grid, an effortless demonstration of how EV innovation extends far beyond the drive itself.
Charging Forward
The journey had already stretched across five days when the convoy pushed further south toward Metro Manila. The fleet recharged at Makati’s Corinthian Car Park, home to the country’s fastest 480kW DC charger, before refueling in a different sense—with a pairing dinner at Hapag Manila. A Filipino Michelin-recognized restaurant, Hapag felt like a natural stop, echoing the spirit of the “Drive Electric. Love Pinas.” campaign in its seamless blend of innovation and Pinoy pride through food.
From there, the convoy continued through Quezon and Bicol, making a cultural stop at Ugu Bigyan’s Pottery Garden while spotlighting the growing EV charging network across the peninsula, before finally crossing into a new territory: the Visayas region.
Island Adventures
Touching down in Cebu, the convoy moved through the city’s heritage sites, linked up with a local car club at BYD Cebu Central, and even powered an entire DJ booth using the Shark 6 DMO’s Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology. From there, they headed south to Moalboal, where Will Dasovich slipped beneath the surface for a freedive alongside the island’s famed sardine run. It was a quiet, almost surreal moment that captured the adventurous spirit of “Love Pinas” in its purest form.
Crossing into Mindanao, the convoy arrived in Pagadian City, effectively linking ACMobility’s northernmost charging points to the heart of the south. From Zamboanga del Sur, the journey pressed on to Cagayan de Oro, where they traded highways for rapids along the Kagay River for a whitewater rafting excursion, paused for pineapple ice cream at a farm in Camp Phillips, and continued into Bukidnon for a paragliding session over Mt. Anahawon Ridge.
Purposeful Travel
In Davao, the journey took on a more meaningful turn with a visit to the House of Hope Foundation for Kids with Cancer, where the team distributed care packages to children and their families. After days of movement, it was a quieter moment that grounded the experience and reminded everyone that travel, at its best, carries purpose beyond the destination. Later, the convoy was joined by Bogart the Explorer, who led them through the Kadayawan Tribal Villages, a vibrant celebration of the heritage of Davao’s 11 tribes.
The journey ultimately culminated in General Santos City, the Tuna Capital of the Philippines, with a grand celebration at BYD GenSan—a fitting finale to a cross-country expedition that spanned two weeks, bridged islands, and proved just how far an electrified fleet can go. The numbers speak for themselves: the BYD Shark 6 DMO and the BYD eMAX 7 each covered over 3,500 kilometers across 102 cities, evidence of the capabilities of these new energy vehicles.
Beyond spectacle, the “Drive Electric. Love Pinas.” campaign showed that getting from city to city on an electric vehicle no longer requires the careful planning and second-guessing that once held drivers back. This wasn’t just a road trip but a real-world demonstration that the charging infrastructure is in place, the vehicles are ready, and the only thing left for Filipino drivers to do is take the wheel.
Photographs courtesy of BYD Cars Philippines
