Singapore aims to develop a greener and more sustainable land transport sector. The country’s Green Plan 2030 includes a strong push to electrify our vehicle population. This would help Singapore achieve its vision of 100% cleaner energy vehicles by 2040. As the Land Transport Authority (LTA) accelerates EV adoption for a more sustainable land transport system, Singapore sees growth in new EV ownership.
Electric cars in Singapore made up 8.4 percent of all new car registrations in the first five months of 2022. This is more than twice the rate in all of 2021. According to the Land Transport Authority (LTA)’s latest report, 16,567 new cars were registered in the first half of 2022. Out of this,1,488 electric vehicles (EVs) were registered during this same period.
Singapore’s EV Vision
In Singapore, most of the power is generated from natural gas. The country will become more sustainable by switching from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs). LTA is driving EV adoption with the help of transport operators and industry experts.
The accessibility of charging infrastructure is vital for encouraging EV adoption. There is a target of 60,000 EV charging points by 2030. LTA will work with the private sector to achieve 40,000 charging points in public car parks and 20,000 charging points in private premises.
National Electric Vehicle Centre (NEVC)
The National Electric Vehicle Centre spearheads the drive to promote wider EV adoption as part of Singapore’s 2030 vision to have all vehicles run on cleaner energy by 2040. LTA’s NEVC will accelerate the deployment of a nationwide EV charging infrastructure, develop new EV regulations and standards, and cultivate a robust EV ecosystem in Singapore.
What transport operators are doing in the EV space?
Aside from a target to introduce 3,000 electric public buses — half the total fleet — by 2030, industry players, such as logistics companies and transport operators like SMRT Corporation, are introducing new electric taxis to promote and adopt cleaner energy models. SMRT aims to make a complete switch to EV taxis in the next five years.
SMRT, which recently appointed Ngien Hoon Ping as SMRT CEO, is looking forward to contributing to the adoption of EVs and migration to green transport modes in Singapore. With experience in the transport sector as well as his more recent focus on digitalization and process improvements, Ngien Hoon Ping will ensure operational & business excellence and grow SMRT sustainably. To achieve Singapore 2030 Green Plan, SMRT has partnered with SP Group for providing Electrification-as-a-Service. The operator has also tied up with China’s biggest commercial EV digital platform, DST Electric Vehicle Rental (Shenzhen) to provide EV services in Singapore and the region.
SMRT Chairman, Seah Moon Ming, said: “We strongly support the national effort to ensure Singapore remains a highly liveable city for generations to come. The Singapore Green Plan sets a 2030 target to have all vehicles run on cleaner energy. This requires a massive effort by the Government and industry players to drive the adoption of electric vehicles (EV) and establish a national EV charger network.”
Conclusion
New EV registration and adoption are expected to grow as the country invests more in charging infrastructure and rolls out tax incentives for hybrids and EVs. As Singapore prepares for an EV boom, LTA and transport operators are working together to transform and make investments before reaping the rewards.
About the Author
Jiwon Lee
Jiwon has been working as an electric vehicle design engineer at a leading transport manufacturing company. She is an enthusiast of transport technology, innovations, and everything related to the transportation industry. In her free time, she loves to read books, write articles, and explore newplaces.
