EV fast chargers to be set up in HDB neighbourhood and town centres
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SINGAPORE: Fast charging points for electric vehicles (EVs) will be launched in Housing and Development Board (HDB) neighbourhoods, town centres, and JTC industrial estates.
Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and Environment Amy Khor announced this on Thursday (Jan 18) at the launch of the first batch of fast charging points at HDB Hub in Toa Payoh Central and the Oasis Terraces in Punggol.
"Today, there are over 2,400 EV charging points at slightly more than 700 HDB car parks across all HDB towns," said Dr Khor, who is also Senior Minister of State for Transport.
This, she said, meant that an interim target of equipping one in three HDB car parks with EV chargers by 2023 had been achieved. The remaining HDB car parks will get chargers over the next few years, she added.
These chargers are primarily slow chargers, suitable for private electric cars parked overnight for about six to eight hours daily. An overnight charge will provide drivers with an average range of about 300km.
With 50km being the average daily mileage for EVs, most drivers would only need to charge their cars every five to six days, said Dr Khor.
"While slow charges will meet the needs of most drivers, we also recognise that fast chargers are needed as a supplement, particularly for high mileage vehicles like taxis, private hire cars and commercial fleets," said Dr Khor.
She noted that most fast chargers deployed now, beyond petrol kiosks, are mostly found in commercial malls and offices "where parking fees tend to be higher", and not preferred rest spots for fleet drivers.
FAST CHARGERS
Dr Khor announced that the government plans to deploy fast chargers in more convenient locations, allowing drivers to charge their cards while they are taking their breaks.
"Thirty minutes to an hour can provide their EVs with an extra 100km to 200km mileage", said Dr Khor.
"That also helps in terms of more drivers deciding to convert to electric vehicles, whether they are taxi drivers, for instance, or PHCs (private hire cars) and fleet drivers."
Dr Khor added that more will be shared on EV fast charger deployment plans in the months to come.
Although Singapore is encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles, many taxi drivers are not making the switch yet. While many say they are interested, the lack of charging infrastructure and other cost considerations are holding them back. Marcus Tan reports.
RISING EV CAR REGISTRATIONS
Last year, new electric car registrations reached 18.2 per cent of all new car registrations, an increase from the 11.8 per cent in 2022 and 3.8 per cent in 2021.
"This is close to five times compared to 2021 and about 50 per cent more than that in 2022," said Dr Khor, adding that registrations for new cleaner energy cars surpassed 75 per cent for the first time last November.
Dr Khor said that the switch to EVs from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles is an important part of Singapore's decarbonisation strategy for the transport sector.
"Successful EV transition for us really depends on partnership among the government, the industry as well as the motorists," she added.
"Indeed it is very good progress and we hope that we will continue to keep up this momentum and see more EVs and fewer ICE vehicles on the road progressively."
