Borneo Motors Singapore (BMS) and SP Group (SP), announced yesterday (June 30) that they have secured a long-term partnership to jointly develop a “cost-effective and flexible” electric vehicle (EV) sharing and leasing programmes for the upcoming Tengah township.
The Memorandum of Understanding between BMS, Toyota’s authorised car distributor and leading automotive specialist in Singapore; and SP, a leading utilities group and sustainable energy solutions provider in Asia Pacific, aims to accelerate Singapore’s transition to green mobility, by providing a range of schemes for electrified car-sharing and car-leasing over the next five years.
The pilot scheme of Singapore’s first electric car-sharing programme in Tengah is said to be able to roll out as early as June 2023, with the aim of promoting the trial and eventual wide-scale adoption of electrified vehicles within Tengah and beyond.
What Tengah residents can expect
Backed by SP’s EV charging network, BMS will be offering drivers a full range of EVs to ensure drivers have many pathways to reduce their transport-related carbon footprint in line with their lifestyle and mobility needs.
The vehicle-sharing pilot in Tengah, Singapore’s first integrated smart energy town, provides a range of up to eight electrified vehicle models from BMS. These include hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery electric and other energy efficient vehicles to suit every lifestyle and customer need.
Tengah residents can thus look forward to using the car-sharing and leasing programmes at the new township to their advantage, choosing the best option that suits their requirements as they are able to access a dynamic series of electrified vehicles such as the Toyota Yaris Cross, the Toyota Corolla Altis, the Toyota Camry, the Toyota RAV4 and the Toyota Harrier from its hybrid vehicle portfolio, including new additions like the Toyota Sienta and the Toyota Alphard Welcab.
Toyota’s first dedicated battery electric vehicle — the Toyota bZ4X — which will make its debut in Singapore next June, will also be added to this wide variety of electrified vehicles.
Come 2025, residential communities such as Tengah will have access to even more sustainable mobility options with Toyota’s line-up of future electrified vehicles.
To book a vehicle, Tengah residents simply need to download and log in to the SP app, which will be integrated with the KINTO Share app, a self-service concept that offers an on-demand, car sharing service (subject to regulatory approval), allowing users to book and pay for the vehicle of their choice in a seamless digital journey.
The SP app also allows drivers to locate the nearest charging point so they can easily charge their vehicle, track the charging progress, and make necessary payments.
To encourage trial and adoption of these electrified vehicles, Tengah residents can also enjoy preferential rental and charging rates.
From the pilot scheme, the two companies will make use of electrification research involving data collection and analysis on a range of factors such as driving patterns, electrified vehicle consumption patterns and electrified vehicle preferences to better understand user behaviour and anticipate evolving demands to optimise future e-mobility programmes for residents.
The data will then be translated into actionable insights to encourage energy-efficient and safer driving habits.
Additionally, there will be the creation of a first-of-its-kind Innovation and Experience Centre within Tengah to provide education on sustainable mobility solutions, with hopes of inspiring Tengah residents to consider incorporating electrified vehicles into their livelihoods.
At the centre, visitors can expect gamification and interactive activities where they can experience firsthand the different pathways to decarbonisation through electrification. It also promotes safer driving habits and cost-saving through energy efficiency.
Both companies claim that they will continue working on other sustainable mobility solutions to support the adoption of electrified vehicles in Tengah.
Future projections of green mobility in Singapore
With the partnership, Singapore’s transition to green mobility is expected to accelerate, as it would raise awareness on sustainable mobility solutions that are convenient, affordable and reliable.
Our collaboration with SP Group aligns with the Singapore government’s Singapore Green Plan 2030 and demonstrates our commitment to contributing to Singapore’s net zero future.
With this initiative, we combine our expertise in electrified vehicles with SP Group’s eco charging solutions to embark on a significant step in steering the nation towards a more responsible and sustainable way of living. This is a giant leap not only for the industry but for the entire ecosystem which we are honoured to be leading.
– Jasmmine Wong, CEO of Inchcape Singapore and Greater China
In other words, the strategic collaboration could potentially expand to other residential towns in Singapore as demand for electric vehicles scale up.
Stanley Huang, Group CEO, SP Group adds that through the integration of their comprehensive suite of smart and sustainable energy solution across the township, Tengah is driven towards a clean energy future.
BMS aims to accelerate hybrid electric vehicle and battery electric vehicle adoption rates within the Tengah housing development by 30 per cent above the national average by 2025.
By 2030, SP plans to install EV charging points in up to 10 per cent of all parking lots in Tengah Park, Garden and Plantation districts, contributing towards the national goal of 60,000 EV charging points.
“Our partnership with Borneo Motors Singapore aims to accelerate the growth of green mobility for residents, offering them accessibility, convenience and reliability through our EV fast-charging network. The insights obtained through the initiatives will enhance our capability to better design and develop EV infrastructure and solutions to support Singapore’s electrification journey,” said Stanley.
Featured Image Credit: Borneo Motors Singapore and SP Group
