As part of Singapore’s transformation to electric vehicles, internal combustion engine vehicles are to be phased out by 2040. The plan aims to introduce more environmentally friendly vehicles such as electric vehicles in Singapore and reduce overall carbon emissions from transport.

The Singapore government has pledged to install over 60,000 electric vehicle charging stations over the next decade to ensure adequate charging opportunities. Of the 60,000 charging stations, 20,000 will be installed in non-land-bound private residences (condominiums and apartments), and the rest will be installed in HDB parking lots.

With the Tesla showroom confirmed and the first vehicle delivered to Singapore just last week, the need for more EV chargers is on the rise. According to the US Department of Energy, over 80% of EV owners charge their EVs at home. While the cost of installing EVs in HDB parking lots would be covered by the government, non-land-bound private households (NLPRs) would have to take care of the installation themselves.

Separately, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has introduced the Electric Vehicle Common Charger Grant (ECCG) as an incentive for early adopters of NLPRs. Before you hire a contractor to install an EV charger in your property, there are a few things you should consider and know the likely costs.

Read also: Cost guide to buying an electric car in Singapore

What to consider when installing electric vehicle charging stations in NLPRs

As residents of a private residential estate, we require resolution approval from the estate management company. This financial resolution would require the approval of at least 50% of the property owners. To gain approval, the installation of the EV charger should be attractive to residents in terms of cost and the added value it brings to the estate. One added value that electric vehicles bring to the estate is the potential to attract future environmentally conscious buyers who require an EV charger.

When installing the EV charger, the resident or the management company must ensure that it is a smart charger. The smart charger complies with the technical requirements of the Singapore Standards Council (SSC) as per TR25:2016. The voltages of EV chargers should be within the standard AC supply voltages up to 1000V and DC voltages up to 1500V.

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Estimated cost of installing an electric vehicle charger (with subsidy for shared electric vehicle chargers)

There are different types of chargers to choose from for EV charger installation with different prices. The outdoor charging stations similar to BlueSG would cost around $15,000 each. If you go for a cheaper option, the indoor charging stations would cost you $5,000. This installation cost would also include the labor cost for the electrician and wiring.

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As announced, with the launch of ECCG, the government will support the installation of electric vehicle chargers. The subsidy will be valid from July 29, 2021 to December 31, 2023 or until 2,000 chargers have been subsidized, whichever is earlier.

The number of eligible EV chargers in NLPR areas is limited to 1% of the number of residential parking spaces rounded to the nearest whole number. For example, if there are 80 parking spaces in the residential areas, the number of eligible EV chargers = 80 x 1% = 0.8 = 1 EV charger. This means that even if our residential area has only 20 parking spaces, having one EV charger will make us eligible to apply for the ECCG.

Eligible EV chargers will receive the grant, which covers only the cost of hardware installation and not software. The grant will co-fund 50% of the installation costs in three areas of upfront costs, subject to a total cap of $4,000 per charger. These three areas are: (1) charger equipment, (2) labor costs (licensed electrician fees), and (3) wiring and installation costs (capped at $1,000).

An example of an estimated breakdown of EV charger installation using ECCG would be as follows:

Source: LTA

Since the average cost of an electric vehicle wall charger is about $5,000, citizens can expect to pay about half that amount with the ECCG.

Interested applicants should first apply to LTA to receive the offer letter for ECCG. Application is made through the Business Grant Portal using a Corppass. Further details on how to apply can be found here.

Read also: EV Early Adopter Incentive (EEAI); VES; PARF and Road Tax: How much can you really save by buying an electric car in Singapore today?

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