Top Line Business Development Corp., through its subsidiary Light Fuels Corporation and affiliated companies, plans to roll out an electric vehicle (EV) charging and battery-swapping network in the Visayas through a partnership with Vietnamese EV infrastructure firm V-Green Charging Stations Philippines Inc.

In a disclosure dated May 8, the company said the initiative aims to transform Light Fuels stations into “multi-energy platforms” that combine traditional fuel services with electric mobility solutions.

The planned rollout will initially cover six Light Fuels stations in Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu, as well as the group’s Pier88 and Bay Mall facilities.

Topline Group Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Brigitte Carmel C. Lapasaran Lim said the initiative is part of the company’s effort to prepare its fuel retail business for the evolving energy landscape.

“This strategic move aims to make our core fuel business future-ready in the current energy landscape,” Lim said. “We are optimistic of our partnership with V-Green aimed at capturing EV customers, addressing service gaps by providing a multi-energy platform supporting both traditional fuels and electric mobility solutions.”

Under the memorandum of understanding (MOU), the Topline Group will allocate designated spaces for EV charging and battery-swapping facilities across the identified sites. The company said EV charging operations are expected to begin sometime in the third quarter of 2026, subject to the execution of a definitive agreement.

Each Light Fuels station will include one to two EV charging bays capable of accommodating around 18 to 20 vehicles per bay daily using Combined Charging System Combo 2 (CCS2) connectors, which are mandated by the Department of Energy (DOE) for charging standardization and compatibility.

The stations will also include battery-swapping facilities for electric scooters. According to the company, each charging port can charge an EV in around 45 minutes depending on the vehicle unit.

The partnership comes amidst growing EV adoption in Central Visayas. Citing data from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Central Visayas, the company said battery electric vehicle registrations increased from 105 units in 2024 to 822 units in 2025.

V-Green representative Nguyen Thi Vu An described the partnership as a major step toward expanding sustainable mobility infrastructure in the region.

“Huge milestone today for the V-Green and Topline Group Partnership,” Nguyen said. “This collaboration is a massive step forward in expanding our network and bringing sustainable energy to more locations.”

The partnership will initially run for five years and may be renewed afterwards for the same length of time.

Lim said the initiative forms part of the group’s broader long-term energy strategy in the Visayas.

“The initiative is part of our long-term vision of strengthening energy security in Visayas,” she concluded. “By building a multi-energy platform today, we are laying the groundwork for a more sustainable and inclusive transport ecosystem in the years ahead.”

Do you think expanding EV charging infrastructure in the Visayas will accelerate electric vehicle adoption outside Metro Manila?

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