In a significant step towards a sustainable future, Singapore has seen a remarkable increase in electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across Housing Board (HDB) carparks.
EV-Electric (EVe) Charging, a subsidiary of the Land Transport Authority (LTA), recently announced that more than 3,000 EV charging points are now available at nearly half of all HDB carparks.
This development marks a significant milestone in Singapore’s push towards green transportation.
Expansion of EV Charging Points
As of August 5, 2024, EVe Charging has deployed EV chargers across 952 HDB carparks, a substantial rise from the more than 2,400 charging points at about 700 car parks reported in January.
The LTA has set an ambitious target to install at least 12,000 EV chargers in about 2,000 HDB car parks by the end of 2025.
The current deployment demonstrates significant progress toward this goal, facilitating greater convenience for EV users.
Some of the new EV charging points are located at Blocks 259/264 Jurong East Street 24, Blocks 135/138 Bishan Street 12, and Blocks 134/136 Bedok North Avenue 3.
In total, Singapore now boasts around 13,800 registered EV charging points, with 6,700 publicly accessible and 7,100 private EV chargers.
Rising Adoption of Electric Vehicles
The adoption of electric vehicles in Singapore has also been on the rise.
In the first six months of 2024, nearly one in three new cars registered was an EV.
Out of 18,576 new cars registered between January and June, 6,019 units, or about 32.4 percent, were EVs. This is a notable increase from around 18.1 percent in 2023 and 11.7 percent in 2022.
Currently, about 18,000 cars, or 2.7 percent of Singapore’s total car population, are electric.
Support from the Government
Government initiatives have played a crucial role in accelerating the adoption of EVs. Speaking at an EV charger demonstration on August 5 at The Quintet condominium in Choa Chu Kang, Dr. Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Transport and Sustainability and the Environment, highlighted the success of LTA’s EV Common Charger Grant.
Over 1,200 co-funded chargers have been installed in condominiums under this grant, which covers up to half the cost of each charger installation, capped at $4,000.
The grant, aimed at accelerating the roll-out of EV chargers, is available until December 2025 or until 2,000 co-funded chargers are installed.
Dr. Khor estimates that by the end of 2024, approximately one in five condos will have EV charging points.
Challenges and Solutions
Despite the progress, rolling out EV charging infrastructure has not been without challenges.
Recent changes to the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act, which lowered the voting threshold needed to pass a resolution to install EV chargers in condos from 90 percent to 50 percent of residents, are expected to increase uptake.
Mr. Ang Chee Siong, chairman of The Quintet’s management council, noted initial concerns among residents about using condo resources for EV infrastructure that would benefit only a small percentage of residents.
However, a “zero-cost” installation plan, where the contractor recovers setup costs through the EV Common Charger Grant and charging fees, led to 90 percent of residents agreeing to install six chargers.
Future Developments
The LTA continues to support innovation and skills development in the EV sector.
On August 5, it announced that registration fees for EV chargers used solely for educational and research purposes will be waived starting in the fourth quarter of 2024.
This follows a similar waiver for chargers used for short-term purposes like exhibitions and trade shows announced in July by Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat.
An Electrifying Future?
Singapore’s commitment to expanding EV charging infrastructure and supporting the adoption of electric vehicles is evident in the recent developments.
With over 3,000 EV charging points now available at nearly half of all HDB carparks, the city-state is making significant strides towards a greener future.
Continued government support and innovative solutions to infrastructure challenges will be key to sustaining this momentum and achieving Singapore’s vision of a sustainable transport ecosystem.
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