The subtle shift to cleaner roads begins here

I've reviewed a few cars here and there over the past several years — not as a full-time motoring journalist, but as someone who's always been curious about how mobility and sustainability intersect.

- By MILLIE MANAHAN

The BYD Tang DM-i's Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) function lets you plug in and power up anywhere - from outdoor adventures to emergency situations.

What I enjoy about assignments like these is that they do not fit neatly into a single category. A car review, for instance, is not only about torque, trims, or tyre sizes. It can also offer a look at how the world is evolving toward cleaner and smarter transport.

Since attending the ASEAN Battery Technology Convention, sponsored by Hioki, for three years in a row, my curiosity about electric vehicles (EVs) has only grown deeper. That event — which gathers battery experts, sustainability advocates, and EV manufacturers across the region — always leaves me with one lingering thought: how soon can the Philippines truly adapt to electric mobility?

And when we talk about EVs locally, BYD, short for Build Your Dreams, often leads the conversation. So when I had the chance to take the BYD Tang DM-i out for a drive, I was eager not just to test its features, but to understand how this plugin hybrid could fit into a more sustainable way of living.

Go beyond hybrid