Issue 3 | JULY 2012
Electric Vehicle Test-bed: The Journey So Far


It has been a year since the launch of Singapore’s Electric Vehicle (EV) test-bed, and we are happy to share that good progress has been made on several fronts since June 2011.

New EV Models Join The Fleet
The Renault Fluence Z.E. and Nissan Leaf were welcomed additions to our current fleet of EVs which initially comprised Mitsubishi i-MiEVs and Daimler smart electric drive vehicles. The expanded range of EV models presents interested participants with a wider choice of vehicles to choose from, as well as the option to select mid-sized EVs as part of the test-bed.

EV Adoption and Charging Station Availability Picks Up

As of July 2012, we have 37 EVs on the roads and this represents a more than three-fold increase from last year’s initial number of 9. Additionally, the number of (normal) charging stations has grown in tandem to support the uptake of EVs, from an initial number of 5 to 23. Significantly, Singapore’s first quick-charging station was launched at the end of last year and is situated at the BCA Academy on Braddell Road. There are plans to have two more quick-charging stations in other parts of Singapore.

Market Survey Collaboration with ESI

The Energy Studies Institute (ESI), an energy think-tank under the National University of Singapore, has been appointed by EMA to spearhead a Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) study. Using data collected from test-bed participants, this study evaluates the feasibility of using EVs in Singapore when their costs become commercially viable. The CBA will wrap up at the end of 2013 in tandem with the EV test-bed.

ESI has also commissioned Frost and Sullivan to conduct a market survey to better understand the current perception of fleet operators and individuals on the viability of EVs.

Information Session with Test-Bed Participants

As part of EMA's ongoing outreach activities, the EV taskforce organised an Information Session in March 2012. The objectives of this event were two-fold:

• To disseminate information and correct misconceptions about the test-bed and EVs; and

• To take in feedback from current participants for further test-bed improvements.

The event was well received with over 140 participants present. And with all four EV models present at the event, it gave potential testbed participants the rare opportunity to test drive all four EV models to compare vehicle specifications before selecting the model that best meets their needs.