More charging stations coming for electric cars

[globalcookie]

More charging stations coming for electric cars
By Christopher Tan, Senior Correspondent

THE drive to put electric cars on Singapore's roads has moved up a gear, with the Government seeking proposals from vendors for a network of charging stations to be ready by end-November.

The invitation was posted on the government e-commerce site Gebiz last Friday.


In it, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) - the lead agency of an electric vehicle trial here - is looking to build up to 63 charging stations across the island, with three of them capable of quick charging.

Quick charging stations refer to those that can recharge an electric car within 30 minutes, as opposed to six to 12 hours for 'normal' charging kiosks.

The EMA is looking to have the first 20 normal stations and one quick-charging station up and running by November this year.

The rest will be rolled out progressively over the next couple of years.

The Government has set aside $20 million to study the robustness, cost-effectiveness and environmental impact of electric- powered vehicles in a tropical environment such as Singapore's.

For the trial, registration taxes and certificates of entitlement for these vehicles have been waived.

The tax break, which is extended to other new-tech vehicles such as plug-in hybrids and fuel-cell cars (with the number capped at 1,300), is expected to cost $75 million in tax revenue.

The EMA's request for proposals is the first concrete step towards rolling out the trial since it was announced last May.

Back then, the agency envisioned the first cars to be running by the middle of this year.

The agency expects to award a tender to build the charging network by June.

It is looking at costs involved in developing the system, including maintenance expenditure up to the end of 2016.

By then, the network is to be handed over to the EMA.

It is exploring various types of charging systems and billing systems.

For the latter, users may be billed monthly, or on the spot, via smart cards such as the CashCard and ez-link card.

Industry players welcome the EMA's move.

Mr Oliver Risse, managing director of electric vehicle charging infrastructure provider Greenlots, said: "It took a bit of time, but it's good to see there is now traction."

He said Greenlots is keen to take part in the exercise.

Mr Risse said charging stations in Germany typically cost $5,000 to $10,000, and expects expenditure here to be in the same ballpark.

Greenlots has already set up 10 electric vehicle charging points in Singapore.

Locations include Parkway Parade, Singapore Polytechnic, Ikea Tampines, Alexandra and Swiss Club.

They are used by five motorbikes and one car - the only electric vehicles here so far.

Currently, owners use the points for free 'because there aren't many electric vehicles here', explained Mr Risse.

Mr Michael Magura, managing director of new tech consultancy group Clean Tech Agency, described the request for proposals as 'an important first step'.

Mitsubishi dealer Cycle & Carriage, which is supplying the first batch of trial electric cars here, is also looking forward to the charging stations.

"They'd be just in time for the arrival of the cars," said C&C senior manager Edmund Gin, adding that the company has placed a tentative order for 30 Mitsubishi i-MiEVs, a small hatchback capable of 140kmh and a range of around 100km.
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Any idea of the difference in car's performance, between Electric and Petrol driven engines?

If electric cars is significantly cheaper to maintain, and cost cheaper too, I think there will be a demand for it.

[onlyyouknow]

I believe electricity should be more expensive than petrol. But it all depends on how efficient the cars are and how much they charge for using the charging stations.

[AlvinLeong]

Electricity car?

Mai lah.... wait SP chut pattern again.

Crude oil up, electricity prices pegged with crude oil
Crude oil down, electricity prices pegged with other factors.

Same LL.

[globalcookie]

Originally Posted by AlvinLeong

Electricity car?

Mai lah.... wait SP chut pattern again..

Talk about chut pattern. I heard it cost a few thousands to install CPG system in a car. Tho CPG is said to be more fuel efficient, but I heard that CPG prices hv gone up so the savings becomes lesser. Anyone has any info on this?

[Mr_Lee]

No sure how many km can electric car travel per charge.

[globalcookie]

Shell opens first fast electric vehicle charging at UK petrol stations

Reuters • 6 hours ago

(Reuters) - Oil major Royal Dutch Shellhas launched a fast-charging service for electric vehicles at three Shell service stations near London and in northern England, the company said on Wednesday.

The service, which charges most electric vehicle batteries from zero to 80 percent within half an hour, is the oil major's first foray into fast-charging electric vehicles, whose use is set to grow with consumers' demand for cleaner cars.

Shell will expand the service further in Britain and into the Netherlands and the Philippines, the company said.

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More such accessible charging stations are needed to encourage vehicle buyers to consider opting for electric vehicles.

When will fast charging reach our shores or has it already reached?.

[loveikan]

Unavoidable.

Anyway Build more such stations sure good for the govt. More electric car.
Eventually More taxation relating to it to come.

Huat ah!!!

[globalcookie]

There's a charging station at the last rest point before entering 2nd link. At Petronas station. I wonder how fast is e charging there.

When there's a break through in battery technology, where battery cells becomes smaller and lighter (like conventional batteries to lithium or how hard disc has became faster and smaller, even thumb drives surpass memory space than HDD we had just about 15-20 years ago), more batteries can be installed, providing longer mileage per charge. That break through will likely see more users embracing electric cars. I believe that day will come in a not too far future.

Technologies has changed how things are today. A lot of efficiencies have evolved.

[hkh]

Think garment will change their current tax structure based on carbon emissions ?

[millenium]

Some electric car can charge at landed property.