The first batch of public fast chargers aimed at serving fleet and high-mileage electric vehicle (EV) drivers have been launched at the Housing Development Board (HDB) Hub in Toa Payoh, and the Oasis Terraces integrated development in Punggol today (January 18).
The fast chargers, which will begin public operation tomorrow, will allow drivers to get half a full charge in just 30 minutes on average.
At HDB Hub, the fast chargers are operated by Shell. They can accommodate up to four EVs at two 120 kilowatt (kW) direct current (DC) stations, and up to two vehicles at two 22 kW alternating current (AC) chargers.
Meanwhile, the fast chargers at Oasis Terraces are operated by SP Mobility and can accommodate up to two vehicles at a 100 kW DC station, and four vehicles at four 22 kW AC chargers.
According to Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment Amy Khor, who officiated the launch, more fast chargers will be deployed in other HDB neighbourhood and town centres as well as JTC industrial areas which are frequented by fleet drivers in the months to come.
While slow charges will meet the needs of most drivers in Singapore, the Senior Minister acknowledges that fast chargers are also required as a supplement, particularly for high mileage vehicles like taxis, private hire cars and commercial fleets.
Given that most of the fast chargers deployed across the city-state beyond petrol kiosks are primarily found in commercial malls and offices where parking fees tend to be higher and are less favourable by fleet drivers, the government plans to deploy fast chargers in more convenient locations to serve the needs of these drivers.
Singapore has deployed over 2,400 EV chargers at over 700 HDB carparks
Singapore has achieved various EV targets in 2023. New electric car registrations in the city-state reached 18.2 per cent of all new car registrations, which is five times more compared to 2021 and 50 per cent more than that in 2022.
In November 2023, registrations for new, cleaner energy cars surpassed 75 per cent for the first time.
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.
– Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment Amy Khor
Senior Minister of State Khor also announced that Singapore has achieved its interim target of equipping one in three HDB carparks with EV chargers in 2023. Today, there are over 2,400 EV charging points at over 700 HDB carparks across every HDB town.
Over the next few years, the government will deploy EV chargers to the rest of the remaining HDB carparks to ensure greater convenience for Singaporeans in accessing these chargers.
Featured Image Credit: Lucy Nicholson via Reuters