Several Filipino electric vehicle (EV) taxi operators have deployed hundreds of electric and hybrid units on GrabTaxi Electric, as rising fuel costs continue to pressure traditional taxi fleets.

Participating operators include EV Taxi Corporation, EnviroCab, TaxiKo Transport Services, KateMikylla, CMAIII, ManilaTrans Taxi Corp., and Sun & Bin Transportation Corporation, marking a multi-operator push to expand electric mobility options in Metro Manila.

The rollout comes during a time of sustained increases in fuel prices, which have tightened margins for operators relying on gasoline and diesel. For EV operators, the shift offers an alternative cost structure, which they say is less exposed to fuel price volatility.

The deployment is supported by GrabTaxi Electric, which provides EV taxi operators access to on-demand bookings through the Grab platform. Some of the operators even reported that bookings from the platform account for a large portion of their daily trips, helping improve fleet utilization.

“When we invested in an all-electric fleet, the challenge was never the vehicle. It was the demand. Street-hail alone could not sustain the utilization rates we needed to make this business work,” said Eric Ke, chief mobility strategist of EV Taxi Corp.

“Activating on GrabTaxi Electric changed the equation. We now have a reliable stream of on-demand bookings that keep our units productive across the day,” he added.

The initiative also aligns with the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (RA 11697), which promotes the adoption of electric public utility vehicles and supports faster franchise processing through the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

GrabTaxi Electric is currently being rolled out in Metro Manila, with coverage across Makati, Taguig, Pasig, Mandaluyong, Quezon City, Manila, and other key areas. The service remains in a beta phase, with plans to expand to regional cities such as Cebu and Davao.

Grab Philippines said the platform aims to connect commuters with available EV taxi fleets while supporting operators transitioning to electric mobility.

“Grab is proud to serve as a bridge between the riding public and the Filipino operators who are leading the shift to electric mobility,” said Gines Barot, Grab Philippines general manager for mobility.

As fuel costs remain volatile, the deployment reflects a growing interest among operators in alternative transport models that offer more predictable operating expenses.

Can electric taxis become a viable alternative to traditional fleets as fuel costs continue to rise?

Follow Power Philippines on Facebook and LinkedIn or join our Viber community for more updates.