EV vs ICE
Benefits of EV
Last updated 24 June 2025
Electric Vehicle (EV) vs Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) Vehicle
EV Vs ICE
EV | ICE | |
|---|---|---|
Eco-friendliness (EV produces half the amount of C02 compared to ICE vehicles.) | Excellent | Poor |
Upfront cost (Incentives in place to lower upfront cost of electric cars by up to $40,000.) | Higher | Lower |
Mileage Cost (The $/km cost is lower for EVs than ICE vehicles.) | Lower | Higher |
Maintenance (An EV owner can avoid paying for tune-ups, oil changes, cooling system flushes and other mechanical components that an ICE vehicle would periodically require.) | Less frequent | More frequent |
Range (ICE cars have range of 650-800km on a full tank while electric cars have range of about 300-400km on a full battery. A range of 300-400km is sufficient to last an average driver around five to six days.) | Shorter | Longer |
Noise Generation (EVs are much quieter as they do not require mechanical valves, gears or fans. This reduces noise pollution in dense urban environments like Singapore.) | Lower | Higher |
Incentives and rebates for switching
Newly registered fully-electric cars and taxis will receive 45% rebate off the Additional Registration Fee (ARF), capped at $15,000.
From 1 Jan 2024 to 31 Dec 2025.
VES Band A1 rebate for cars will remain at $25,000.
VES Band A2 rebate for cars will be lowered to $2,500.
From 1 Jan 2025 to 31 Dec 2025.
Commercial vehicles are categorised into three bands resulting in a $20,000 surcharge for the most pollutive vehicles to $15,000 incentive for the least pollutive vehicles. This encourages buyers to choose commercial vehicle models that have lower emissions across the identified pollutant categories.
From 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2027.
ETS provides a discount off the Prevailing Quota Premium when owners of older diesel commercial vehicles and buses switch to cleaner new vehicles.
For Light Commercial Vehicles, ETS ceased on 31 Mar 2025.
For Heavy Commercial Vehicles, ETS will cease after 31 Dec 2025.
Owners who register a zero-tailpipe emissions heavy goods vehicle or bus will be eligible for a $40,000 incentive.
From 1 Jan 2026 to 31 Dec 2028.
The ECCG will co-fund the installation of 3,500 EV chargers at Non Landed Private Residences.
The first 2,000 chargers will be eligible for co-funding up to a cap of $4,000 per charger, while the subsequent 1,500 chargers will have a reduced co-funding cap of $3,000 per charger.
From 29 Jul 2021 to 31 Dec 2026.
The EHVCG will co-fund up to 50% of the installation costs for eHV charger, capped at $30,000 per charger. The grant will be available for the first 500 chargers, with a limit of three chargers per site.
Companies must purchase at least one eHV with each charger, and the charger must be deployed at the owner’s place of business. The charger must be installed at designated lorry or coach lots and have a minimum power rating of 50kW.
From 1 Jan 2026 to 31 Dec 2028.
"If you really want to reduce carbon emissions, take public transport. But if you have to buy a car, buy an EV!"
Lower Carbon Footprint
While EVs are more costly to build, they have significantly higher environmental advantage than Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles over its entire lifecycle.
Quieter Roads
EVs produce less noise as compared to ICE vehicles. This creates quieter roads and reduces the overall noise pollution.
Reusable Batteries
At the end of the vehicle’s lifespan, EV batteries can be recycled and repurposed as alternative power sources.
"I would prefer an Electric Vehicle to Internal Combustion Engine vehicle any day."
A Smoother Drive
EVs offer a smoother driving experience as there is no need for gear changes. The electric-powered engine also creates a significantly quieter drive.
Less Maintenance
There are fewer moving parts in an EV as compared to an ICE vehicle. This means that less maintenance is required over the vehicle’s lifespan.
Availability of Charging
Every HDB town will be EV-Ready by end 2025. By 2030, close to 60,000 charging points will be deployed in tandem with EV adoption.
