The Geely Okavango has (finally?) been recognized as a hybrid by DOE

When the Republic Act No. 11697 or the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (also known as the EVIDA Law) was passed into law, one of the biggest perks of it was the exemption of hybrid and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or number coding scheme until 2030.

This was to entice car buyers to go for electrified vehicles instead of the usual options, and it worked. This also became a marketing strategy for brands who offer mild hybrid vehicles which based on the law are not included in the exemptions, and that includes the Geely Okavango which was very popular at some point.

Of course, owners wanted to fight for their “right” to the exemption and it seems like it has paid off as the MPV (or SUV to others) is now included in the exemptions as it has been recognized by the Department of Energy (DOE) as a hybrid vehicle.

This means those who purchase a brand-new Geely Okavango Elite will now get the coveted green license plate given to recognized hybrids and BEVs, which also means being able to drive in number coding-restricted roads anytime of the week.

This is not the first time a mild-hybrid vehicle model has been recognized as a hybrid despite not meeting parameters set by the DOE. Models such as the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Hybrid, Mazda CX-60, and the Suzuki Ertiga, among others, have been recognized previously and received green plates.

Well there you have it, if you own or plan to buy a Geely Okavango Elite, you can drive it any day of the week without the worry of being apprehended, at least until 2030.

_{Photos by Sam Surla}