EV Charging 101: 7 Things To Know About Charging An EV Car In Singapore

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Singapore aims to drive the adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) on our roads as part of its Green Plan 2030 initiative, in a bid to reduce land transport emissions in absolute terms.

Compared to an internal combustion engine (ICE) powered vehicle, a similar EV will only emit half the amount of CO2. According to LTA, if all light vehicles in Singapore were to run on electricity, there would be a reduction of 1.5 to 2 million tonnes of carbon emissions, which is approximately 4% of total emissions.

One of the biggest differences between driving an ICE car and an EV is how they operate. Regular ICE cars are generally inefficient because only a percentage of the fuel burned is converted to energy that powers the car’s movement. In contrast, EVs are far more efficient as they directly convert energy into movement.

One concern with owning an EV is charging. In Singapore, this is understandably a concern as most of us do not live in a landed property and, thus, do not have access to our own charger. We may also be unfamiliar with the different types of EV chargers and what may be some of the dos and don’ts of charging an EV in Singapore.

In this article, we will explain 7 things you need to know about charging an EV in Singapore.

#1 EV Chargers Are Accessible

As part of the Singapore Green Plan, all HDB towns will be an EV-Ready Town by 2025, and more EV charging points will be installed in HDB carparks in the next few years.  By 2030, there will be 60,000 EV charging points installed island-wide. 

Increasing the number of public charging points will be vital in encouraging EV ownership. As more EV charging points are installed over the next few years, we can expect car owners to gradually shift to purchasing an EV instead. We also see many petrol kiosks install EV charging points as they broaden their operations from fuel sales to include EV charging as well.

#2 EV Charging Is Safe

Singapore adopts proper safety measures for EV charging. If you don’t already know, there is a National Electric Vehicle Charging Standard – Technical Reference 25 (TR25) – developed in partnership with industry and academic stakeholders – that stipulates proper installation of EV charging facilities and mandates periodic safety inspections. This is similar to how all lifts in Singapore must comply with safety regulations and require regular maintenance before they are allowed to operate.

TR25 will also be reviewed regularly to ensure that it incorporates the latest EV charging technologies and advancements. 

Earlier this year, the revised TR25 allowed for new charging technologies like battery swapping for motorcycles and high-powered charging up to 500kW, but continues to prohibit the use of extension cords and charging from 13 Ampere household socket outlets to reduce safety incidents.

All EV charging stations in Singapore must comply with the national EV charging standard TR25, ensuring that charging during inclement weather will be safe. 

#3 Locate An EV Charger Near You Using The MyTransport.SG App

If you have not already downloaded the MyTransport.SG app by LTA – which is available on both the App Store and Google Play – then you really ought to do so today, even if you don’t usually drive. 

For non-drivers, the app tells us where the nearest bus stops are and the timing of the buses’ arrival. For drivers, the app shows us where parking is available across Singapore, provides us with updated traffic news and road congestion, and even tells us where speed cameras are located! 

For EV drivers, the MyTransport.SG app provides useful information such as the availability of charging points, the cost of charging, power rating, and plug type to help users plan their charging schedules.

For example, near our office at Tanjong Pagar, I can see the available charging points that I can use and the type and cost of charging. We can also filter our search for charging stations based on what we want and be sent to the apps of the charging operators to pay or to Google Maps to find our way. 

#4 Slow (AC) & Fast Charging (DC) For EVs

In general, there are two main types of charging available: Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC). Note that the power that comes from the grid is always AC. However, when charging our EVs, the power needs to be converted to DC. 

Thus, the key difference between AC and DC charging is whether the power is converted within the charger (DC) before going into the car, or within the car (AC) itself.

Slow charging uses alternating current (AC) and is most convenient and ideal for overnight charging or when we are in the office. For AC charging, assuming we have about 20% of battery left in the car, it will likely take us a few hours of charging to bring it up to 80% or more. 

Most public charging points in Singapore will be slow chargers that support overnight charging at shared residential carparks. Overnight slow charging will likely be the most common mode of charging, given its convenience to drivers and its much lower burden on electrical infrastructure. You can think of this as similar to how we charge our mobile phones at night just before we sleep and being able to wake up to a fully charged vehicle. 

Fast charging uses direct current (DC) and is suitable for motorists who spend most of their day on the road (e.g. private hire drivers), or those in need of a quick charge. Typically, the charge can be done in an hour or less, the same time it takes for a meal or a quick errand.

While fast charging may reduce the number of charging points needed, it does place a significantly higher demand on our electrical grid and more extensive back-end electrical infrastructure upgrades will be needed. 

Besides knowing that there is AC (slow charging) and DC (fast charging) charging options, there is no need for us to worry about any further technical details. All public chargers will support these Type 2 AC and/or Combo-2 DC charging and EV drivers can rest assured knowing that the connectors of all public charging points will be compatible with their EVs.

#5 EVs Are a Practical Option in Singapore

If you think about it, Singapore is a particularly easy country for drivers to adopt EVs. As a small island, a trip from one end of the country to the other spans 50km or less. So, unlike drivers in other countries, we will not need to worry about having to factor in rest stops to charge our vehicles mid-journey. 

Assuming that the average mileage of private cars in Singapore is about 50km per day, a fully charged EV can easily last about 5 days since most EVs have a range of at least 300km. 

In terms of charging frequency, this means that most drivers will likely need to charge about once a week. 

#6 Charge Till 80%, Not 100% For A Better And Longer Battery Life 

When topping up fuel at the petrol kiosk, we are used to doing a full tank top up.

A slight shift in this mindset would help us retain the battery life for EV charging. Since the charging rate slows down once a car is charged to 80%, we can consider unplugging our car once it hits 80%. Neither do we need to start charging our EV if it’s at 50 to 60%. 

Think of this as similar to how we don’t need to fully charge our mobile phones to 100% before we start using them again, or how we only start charging it when the battery percentage hits 20%.

Some experts also believe that consistently charging our EVs to 80%, rather than 100% helps to prolong battery life.

#7 Be Socially Responsible When Charging

Similar to any shared public resources that we use (e.g. tables at hawker centres, books & newspapers at the library), it’s important to consider other users who might also wish to use the same resource that we are currently using. 

For example, if we are done with our meal at the hawker centre and notice others looking for a table, it would be good to clear our table, return our trays and pass our seats to someone else who needs them. 

Similarly, when charging our EV, we should move our vehicle away once our charging session is over. Also, if we see a long queue ahead of us, do consider charging the battery to a level that is sufficient so that others can have a chance, rather than extend charging till 100%. 

When we’re finished charging, make sure the charging gun is securely fastened to the holster to avoid damage and tripping hazards. This is no different to what all of us are already doing at the petrol kiosk after we top up our fuel.

Read Also: Cost Guide To Buying An Electric Car In Singapore

Even though most of us in Singapore may be new to EV charging, we can be sure that Singapore will not only  have the public infrastructure needed to help us move towards a greener and more sustainable land transport sector, but also ensure that EV charging will be safe, easy, and convenient.