The Straits Times cited data from the Land Transport Authority of Singapore showing that as of August 2023, there were 578 electric vehicle chargers installed in 212 residential buildings through funding from the Charging Point Development Programme. Previously, in March, there were only 267 chargers installed in 107 buildings.
According to Singapore’s largest newspaper, as of August, 28.9% of the budget allocated for the installation of 2,000 chargers has been disbursed. Registration started in July 2021 and will continue until December 31, 2025. It is expected that more companies will participate in this field after the new law loosens the conditions for installing electric vehicle chargers in residential buildings.
The number of electric vehicle chargers in residential buildings in Singapore has more than doubled in 5 months thanks to government funding. Photo: Plugshare
Specifically, according to a regulation that will come into effect by the end of 2023, the installation of electric vehicle chargers in residential buildings will require only 50% consensus from residents, compared to the current 90% requirement. This is a significant change in Singapore’s Electric Vehicle Act, which was passed by Parliament in 2022.
Notably, the Electric Vehicle Act also requires new buildings and buildings undergoing renovation to have at least 1 electric vehicle charging point for every 25 parking spaces, and to ensure sufficient power supply for future expansion of chargers in Singapore.
Under Singapore law, new buildings and buildings undergoing renovation must have at least 1 electric vehicle charging point for every 25 parking spaces. Photo: Plugshare
Kigo, one of the companies operating the electric vehicle charging system in residential buildings, said that compared to last year, the number of proposed installations has increased by 20%. However, during the voting process, there were situations where the proposals did not reach the necessary 90% consensus, sometimes due to a lack of just one vote.
Mr. Dean Cher, Head of Travel at SP Group, another electric vehicle charging service provider in Singapore, believes that: “Conditions will be relaxed with the amended law, and then we hope to have more proposals approved.”
Meanwhile, Charge+ CEO Goh Chee Kiong said that his company has seen increasing interest in the charging system as electric vehicles become more familiar to both residents and building management.
The heat of the electrification trend has also made oil and gas businesses cannot stand by. Sinopec, the smallest oil and gas company in Singapore, is preparing to officially deploy electric vehicle charging services at 3 of its petrol stations. Currently, there are 5 active charging points at this provider’s stations.
By 2030, there will be 60,000 electric vehicle charging points across Singapore, including 40,000 points in public parking lots. Photo: Mothership
According to The Straits Times, as of the end of August 2023, Singapore had 9,454 privately-owned electric cars, an increase of 44.8% compared to 6,531 vehicles at the end of 2022. According to the roadmap set by the Government, the Lion Island will gradually phase out vehicles with internal combustion engines, and by 2040, all vehicles in Singapore will run on clean energy.
To accelerate the electrification strategy, Singapore has announced a series of strong measures to encourage people to switch to environmentally friendly vehicles and develop infrastructure for electric cars. The Electric Vehicle Act, which will take effect at the end of this year, is one of those efforts.
Singapore aims to deploy 60,000 electric vehicle charging points nationwide by 2030, including 40,000 points in public parking lots and 20,000 points at private facilities.
According to The Straits Times, Channel News Asia, Today Online
