First batch of 50 electric vehicles to arrive next year
Posted: 20 November 2009 1655 hrs

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SINGAPORE: Singapore will receive its first batch of electric vehicles (EVs) next year as part of a national EV test-bedding programme.

The Energy Market Authority (EMA) said on Friday 50 Mitsubishi EVs will make their way here from September.

EMA's deputy chief executive, David Tan, said the authority is now looking for companies to participate in the programme and be an early adopter of EVs in Singapore.

They will be required to collate data on the performance of the EVs. These include their driving range between charges, ease of charging, annual mileage and total costs of operation.

The data collected will be key in evaluating the costs and benefits, and overall feasibility of the future adoption of EVs here.

Mr Tan said a multi-agency EV Taskforce will also be rolling out a small network of charging stations. A competitive tender will be launched next year.

On top of that, a study will be carried out to determine the number of EV charging stations and their specific locations. Most of the charging is expected to be done overnight in the car parks of the EV users' homes or offices.

The deployment of these EV charging stations will be timed to coincide with the actual take-up of EVs under the testbedding programme.

The programme, which will run for three years from next year, will be driven by the EMA and the Land Transport Authority.

Mr Tan said he expects the use of EVs to pick up from 2015 and become fully commercially viable and ready for the mass market after 2020.


- CNA/so