Singapore has seen a surge in take-up for electric vehicles (EVs), with new registrations this year more than double the rate for all of 2021. To support the growing number of TVs in the country, the government is working on EV infrastructure development. Recently, the Electric Vehicles Charging Bill has been proposed to regulate the safe charging of EVs and expand the network of accessible charging infrastructure in Singapore.

Rules Set Out in the Electric Vehicles (EV) Charging Bill

1. All new buildings and those under renovation with car parks must install a minimum number of electric vehicle (EV) charging points, equivalent to around one for every 25 parking lots.

2. EV Charging Bill will cover fixed and non-fixed chargers. Fixed chargers include battery charge and swap stations and pantograph chargers. Non-fixed chargers are portable or mobile chargers.

3. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will regulate the supply, modification, advertisement, installation, certification, registration, use, and maintenance of EV chargers.

4. All chargers must be registered before use. Upon registration, a registration code will be issued for the charger, and a registration mark must be affixed to the charger.

5. All installed chargers will reference standards such as Technical Reference 25 (TR25) for Electric Vehicle Charging Systems, and Singapore Standard 638 Code of Practice for Electrical Installations.

6. EV chargers need to supply sufficient power capacity of at least 1.3kVA per car and motorcycle parking lot in the development. This will be able to support 7.4 kW charging points with smart charging capability at about 1 in 5 lots.

7. Existing EV chargers that are not registered can continue to be used for six months after the commencement of the Bill.

8. EV charging operators will be required to obtain a licence to provide charging services and battery swapping services or rent out a non-fixed EV charger.

Based on the average mileage of car drivers in Singapore and the average effective range of a typical EV, a driver would need to charge the EV only once every five to seven days.

Not just LTA and the government, but transport operators in Singapore have also started initiatives to make the country a car-lite nation. With the growth of electric mobility, Strides Automotive Services, a subsidiary of SMRT Corporation, has started to maintain electric vehicles (EVs), including electric buses and MG5 electric taxis. SMRT will continue to upskill EV maintenance competency of our workforce through the National EV Safety Specialist programme.

Commenting on the same, SMRT CEO, Ngien Hoon Ping, said: “We will continue to deliver safe, reliable, and commuter-centred services in a sustainable manner, so that we can move people and enhance lives.”

Ngien Hoon Ping further added: “We will continue to contribute towards sustainable communities in our role as a public transport operator, by transporting commuters efficiently and making our network more inclusive for commuters.”

Seah Moon Ming, SMRT Chairman, commented: “When we work together, the good we achieve is not just for ourselves now, but also for the generations that come after us.”

Conclusion

The Electric Vehicles (EV) Charging Bill sets out a number of provisions that will help to ensure safe and reliable EV charging and expand the EV network. The new bill, if passed, will enable Singapore to achieve its target of deploying 60,000 charging points by 2030 and for all vehicles to be of cleaner energy by 2040.

About the Author

Chloe Tay

Chloe works as a design architect and is involved in the sustainable design and specifications ofconstructionprojects. She loves to share her views about design marvels with people around the world. When she is not working or writing, Chloe loves to discover old architectural sites and museums.