Singapore heavy vehicle owners seek more charging stations

Owners of electric heavy vehicles in Singapore are set to receive a government incentive of S$40,000 for each new vehicle starting from 2026. This plan aims to encourage businesses to adopt cleaner transport options. Westpoint Transit, a private bus company, has embraced the change by adding four electric buses to its fleet of 60. Since 2019, the company has reported a 40% saving on diesel costs. However, electric buses come with high upfront costs, ranging from S$90,000 to S$500,000, not including additional fees. So far, Westpoint has spent around S$900,000 on electric vehicles. The government will also support the installation of chargers through the Electric Heavy Vehicle Charger Grant. Each company can receive up to S$30,000 for charger installation. However, heavy vehicle owners have pointed out the need for more charging stations and lower installation costs, despite the grants. Lionel Lee, director of Westpoint, explained that the high cost of installing fast chargers is due to the need for more power. Installation can cost between S$300,000 to S$500,000, which can be a significant burden for smaller companies. Fast chargers can recharge a bus in about two and a half hours, while slower chargers may take eight hours. The lack of charging stations is also a challenge for other companies. Teambuild Construction Group, which operates a fleet of heavy vehicles but none are electric, faces similar issues. Their vehicles must travel to their warehouse to charge, which can take up to five hours. This leads to downtime for drivers. Despite these hurdles, companies like Teambuild see potential long-term benefits in switching to electric vehicles. They are considering government incentives to eventually purchase electric heavy vehicles.