More Financial Incentives and Charging Points to Encourage Electric Car Usage

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Transport (a) what is the Ministry's position on use of electric cars in Singapore; (b) whether there are plans to offer financial incentives to encourage more motorists to use electric cars; and (c) whether the Ministry will install more charging points for electric cars.

The Minister for Transport (Mr Khaw Boon Wan): Madam, we encourage the use of vehicles that are more environmentally-friendly, or green, including electric cars. And that is why we incentivise low carbon emissions cars through the Carbon Emissions-based Vehicle Scheme (CEVS), which we have just had a discussion earlier. CEVS is outcome-based and neutral with respect to the type of technology used.

LTA and the EDB had earlier issued a Request for Information (ROI) to invite proposals for a nationwide electric car-sharing programme. Besides trialling electric car-sharing services, the programme will also see the installation of 2,000 charging points across Singapore. The proposals are in the final stages of evaluation.

All that said, the greenest form of transport is public transport. So, do follow my example, if you cannot be a 100% public transport user, at least be a part-time public transport user. It is a little bit like being vegetarian, if you cannot do 100% like me, even 初一,十五, just twice a month, is good. [ Laughter ] So at least one day a week, I use public transport throughout the day. And sometimes, I do two days a week. The greenest form of transport is public transport. Even though electric cars produce no tail-pipe emissions, the process of generating the electricity they consume, emits carbon dioxide. We must move towards a car-lite Singapore.

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah: Thank you, Madam, I would like to ask Minister on the 2,000 charging points – is it only for those in the car-sharing scheme or any member of the public can use the charging points. I think not everybody would like to join the car-sharing scheme.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: My favourite Member of Parliament has caught me on this tiny little detail! I am not sure, I got to check. I suppose it will apply to the trial participants of the car-sharing scheme, but as the facilities are out there and if other people would like to use it, they may charge them for its usage. I do not know. They may charge the battery, as well as charge the user, I think.

Ms Sun Xueling (Pasir Ris-Punggol): A supplementary question. I understand that London launched the world's first fully electric-powered double-decker bus in March 2016 ‒ this year. Would the MOT consider using electric vehicles for public transport? Thank you.

Mdm Speaker: Minister, question about London introducing the new electric bus.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: My apologies. I thought we have moved on to the next parliamentary question. Can the Member please repeat the supplementary question?

Ms Sun Xueling: I was asking that I understand that London launched the world's first fully electric-powered double-decker bus in March 2016 ‒ this year. Would the MOT consider using electric vehicles for public transport?

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: The answer is yes. Eventually we will try to make use of all this new technology. I covered those points during my COS, that driverless vehicles, use of greener fuel like electricity should all be explored. In fact, besides the trial project involving 2,000 charging points and car-sharing, we have two other trials which are going on. One is for buses; one is for taxis, and commercial trucks. We certainly intend Singapore to be among the early adopters, if not, to be among the early pioneers on the use of such technology because we are a city, compact, and especially for electric vehicles, you can cover a long distance with a single charge. I read that for Tesla Model 3, they are talking about covering almost 400 km with one charge. At that rate, you can drive all the way to KL.