Turning his vehicle pickup into an inter-island road trip, Romel Emperado drove his new GAC AION V all the way from Luzon down to Mindanao, visiting key scenic destinations along the way.
Real-world journeys across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao show how zero-emission cost-effective electric mobility can work for Filipino drivers in real-world conditions
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."
Romel Emperado stops along the route during his multi-island
journey from Metro Manila to Lanao del Norte.
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.
From daily commutes to multi-island road trips, Rommel Laranjo seamlessly handles long-distance family travel with his new GAC AION V.
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.
Visit one of 30 GAC dealerships nationwide or explore the new energy lineup at gacgroup.com/en-ph/test-drive. For the latest news and updates, follow @gacmotorph on Facebook and Instagram.
About GAC International
Philippines
GAC International Philippines, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary
of GAC International, the global arm of the GAC Group—a Fortune Global 500
powerhouse ranked No. 181 in 2024. As a key market in GAC’s global expansion,
GAC International Philippines, Inc. serves as the official steward of the
brand's commitment to delivering world-class, intelligent, and sustainable
mobility solutions to Filipino consumers. Moving forward, the brand will place
an even greater focus on enhancing customer experience at every touchpoint.
Under the "ONE GAC" strategic framework, GAC
International Philippines, Inc. integrates a premium multi-brand portfolio
including GAC MOTOR, AION, and HYPTEC. The company offers a versatile lineup
that balances the reliable performance and fuel efficiency of traditional
internal combustion engine (ICE) models with the cutting-edge technology of new
energy vehicles, such as the ultra-safe Magazine Battery 2.0 and the ADiGO
intelligent ecosystem.
GAC International Philippines, Inc. is dedicated to providing a
"zero-anxiety" ownership experience through a localized and
responsive support network. To better and faster meet the specific needs of
Filipino consumers, a dedicated local spare parts warehouse has been
established in the country, ensuring a stable supply of genuine components and
significantly reducing service turnaround times. All operations adhere to the
GSSW (GAC Global Sales & Service Way) standards, guaranteeing that every
Filipino customer receives world-class technical support and high-quality
service throughout the vehicle’s lifecycle.
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