Ayala Land to install EV fast-charging stations around Luzon

With over 20 charging stations to be activated throughout Luzon, Ayala Land’s comprehensive charging architecture will support the charging needs of locally available electric vehicles, marking the beginning of the Philippine EV revolution.

From installing one of the first integrated EV charging systems in Ayala Malls, Ayala Land takes the next step by bringing chargers to its offices, estates, hotels, and industrial centers.

The multi-awarded Kia EV6 — with its long-range, zero-emissions power, 800V ultra-fast charging, and distinctive crossover styling — is not only on display at the program launch and roll-out of the Luzon-wide Ayala Land Vehicle Charging Hub. It is also being used as a real-world demonstration of how a charging ecosystem is already in place for all-electric vehicles sold in the Philippines.

With this program, Ayala Land reinforces its commitment to sustainable and responsible property development with the activation of 20 Electric Vehicle (EV) fast-charging stations across seven cities in Luzon. These 22-KW AC and 60-KW DC fast chargers will soon allow EV users to fully charge their vehicles as fast as one to two hours (depending on vehicle used). This is in keeping with the company’s thrust and long-term commitment toward carbon neutrality and alignment with the global and local directive to shift to electric vehicles.

“Today marks a special milestone for us at Ayala Land. We are launching over 20 electric vehicle fast-charging stations across 7 cities in Luzon – this is the largest roll-out yet of EV charging stations in the country,” said Bobby Dy, Ayala Land President & CEO.

“We are expanding this program to more key locations, energizing sustainable transport faster and further in the years to come,” he added.

The EV6 is Kia’s first car to be based on the company’s dedicated new platform for battery electric vehicles (BEVs). It is also the recipient of the European Car of the Year 2022 Award and a 5-Star Euro NCAP rating. “Seeing the EV6 in an actual charging hub, and being shown how it will be fully supported by a charging architecture, will further cement trust in electric vehicles,” says Kia Philippines President Manny Aligada. “Through this, we want to further inspire the car-buying public to explore a cleaner and more sustainable form of transport. The arrival of the EV6, and the Ayala Land Electric Vehicle Charging Hub, are proof of our commitment to an electric future.”

The EV6 GT-Line offers a fully-electric, zero-emission powertrain configuration with a long-range (77.4 kWh) high-voltage battery pack. The EV6 can travel over 500km on a single charge (based on EPA rating). This range is worth highlighting, as the Ayala Land Charging Hubs that will be rolled out throughout Luzon will be strategically located so as to ensure that EV users will have a charging station nearby.

The Ayala Land Vehicle Charging Hubs will be located in Ayala Land Estates (One Ayala, Circuit Makati, Nuvali Laguna, Vermosa Cavite, and Vertis North); Ayala Land Offices (Tower 2 Ayala Triangle, Solaris One, and Baguio Technohub); Ayala Malls (Greenbelt Makati, Glorietta Makati, Alabang Town Center, and Trinoma); Ayala Hotels (Seda, BGC); and at the Laguna Technohub.

Currently, the charging hubs use 22 KW AC and 60 KW DC fast chargers (for One Ayala) with Type 2 and GB/T connectors. For vehicles that do not have Type 2 and GB/T connectors, the chargers can still be used with a proper adapter. Currently, these charging hubs are a free service to EV owners.

The Kia EV6 and its supporting charging ecosystem provided by Ayala Land represent a pivotal shift into the electric vehicle market. What was once a vision of the future is now cemented in reality. This ‘Movement That Inspires’ is a solid commitment to sustainable mobility, sustainable energy, and sustainable planet.

Search
-

Lenovo Yoga 9i (7th Gen): A brilliant 2-in-1 laptop experience

03/21/2023

Because of the nature of my work, my eyes have always been on devices with the most power. And that usually meant choosing from a selection of big and bulky laptops. And convertibles? Well, they were never really on my radar.

So when Lenovo asked if we wanted some time with the 7th Generation Yoga 9i, I took the opportunity to see what it could do, or rather, how a 2-in-1 laptop could fit into my life.

And let me tell you, I’ve been loving it.

Elegant, eye-catching, and versatile

The Lenovo Yoga 9i is a gorgeous laptop, that’s for sure. The curved and rounded corners not only add comfort when gripping the device but also give it an air of elegance.

I also absolutely love this neutral color which is pretty popular these days. And that mix of glossy and matte finishes just, again, adds to its overall elegance.

Now the hallmark of the Yoga series laptops is its hinged screen allowing it to assume multiple form factors. From clamshell to tablet form and everything in between, versatility is the name of this Yoga’s game. And I was surprised at the convenience this feature provides.

In pitching projects, for example, it wasn’t just more convenient to tent up the Yoga 9i for a better viewing experience, it also impressed our clients. Which is always good when you want to close a deal.

Since the Yoga 9i is also capable of pen input, I could squeeze in some quick photo editing or graphic design work. Flipping the keyboard over like this made it even easier to work on finer details that would be hard to do with just a trackpad or mouse.

I am just a tad bit disappointed that there’s no way to store the pen, however. I read that previous models had a pen garage but this generation, sadly, does not.

But I suppose that’s okay since the pen’s performance isn’t the best in terms of latency and consistency. You should be able to handle retouching and taking down notes work but digital painting or illustration might not be its best use-case scenario.

Still, I’m a person who loves using a stylus. And I’m pretty happy about being able to use one on a portable PC instead of the usual Android tablet.

Intuitive features

Ease of use for the Lenovo Yoga 9i doesn’t just mean its versatility, however. Apart from the touch display and stylus, Lenovo has built-in intuitive features you didn’t think would make your life easier when working in or out of the house.

With Flip-to-Start, accessible through Lenovo Vantage, simply lifting your screen will automatically boot up your laptop. Combine that with Lenovo’s Intelligent Sensing features like Zero Touch login and you’ll get to your desktop even faster.

It can also detect when you step away from the computer, triggering it to dim and then lock the computer so you can take your bathroom breaks without any hurry.

And if you’re particular about the privacy and don’t want to keep the camera on all the time, Lenovo also includes a physical shutter that you can slide to block the lens.

All-around performer with awesome battery life

Being an ultraportable, I had to keep in mind that it may not do well with heavy motion graphics or 4K editing projects. But for all else? It’s a solid performer.

I rarely edit projects in full outside of the house anyway so I found myself using the Yoga 9i to continue work I’ve already done at the studio.

It was in doing all other non-media work that this laptop was able to shine. Managing content on the website and on our socials was practically problem-free and the multiple input options available (touch display, pen, etc) meant I could adapt to different working scenarios. And it can handle quite a number of Google Chrome tabs simultaneously, too.

My favorite use for this device, however, would have to be for entertainment. The picture quality on this OLED display is stunning but partner that with the rotating sound bar and you’ve got yourself a little personal cinema.

Four Bowers & Wilkins speakers live on the soundbar which rotates along with the display so you always get the best sound quality, no matter what form factor you’re using.

Appreciating the lighthearted comedy of Superstore or getting drawn into the suspense of Promising Young Woman on Netflix was such an experience thanks to the combination of great visuals and even better audio quality.

Light gaming is also doable on this device. A few hours of Genshin Impact and the machine was able to keep up but don’t expect high frame rates and maxed-out graphics on this one, obviously.

It also does heat up quite fast, especially during heavy loads but it wasn’t too bothersome and just once again reinforces that this laptop is meant for medium to light workloads.

The Yoga 9i also has superb battery life. You won’t be scouring for an outlet given this laptop can last up to 13 hours on a video loop. It charges via USB-C, too, which means I can easily find another charger even if I forget the power brick at home.

Final thoughts

Even with some complaints here and there, the Lenovo Yoga 9i is a convertible I would love to have. It’s sleek, gorgeously designed, and packs a punch for a portable. And more importantly, it’s enjoyable.

As a media-heavy user, I probably wouldn’t make this my daily workhorse but it would be something I would, and was, be excited to use out of the house. It’s a device that helps you transition from work to play as easily as it can transform from laptop to tablet.

Bottom line, I’ve come to realize the niftiness and convenience a convertible can offer and the Lenovo Yoga 9i is an absolutely wonderful experience if a 2-in-1 is what you’re after.

REVIEWS