One service provider’s 10-minute charge can last about 30 km, roughly the distance between Raffles Place and Changi Village.
SINGAPORE: Electric vehicle (EV) drivers can soon charge their vehicles more conveniently with a growing fleet of mobile charging vans ready to hit the roads. All they need to do is contact firms offering these charging services, and the vans—equipped with portable chargers specifically designed for electric vehicles—will arrive to provide a much-needed boost.
This initiative targets drivers whose cars have run out of battery while on the road, as well as those whose carparks lack EV chargers. Such efforts come amid ambitious plans to ramp up the adoption of clean energy alternatives under Singapore’s Green Plan, the country’s sustainability push aimed at achieving key targets by 2030.
Among the service providers is car dealer Wearnes, which has recently launched a pilot for its mobile charging services. “As and when their battery runs flat, we’ll respond to them by coming down with our mobile EV charger,” explained Wearnes Automotive general manager Vynn Tu. The company will dispatch an electric Kangoo van retrofitted with a device from local battery maker Durapower. A quick 10-minute charge from this van can provide enough power for about 30 km—roughly the distance between Raffles Place and Changi Village.
Wearnes hopes to fill the current supply gap while the country pursues its goal of installing 60,000 charging points by 2030. Currently, the services under this pilot run only on weekdays from 9 am to 6 pm. The firm aims to eventually expand its offerings and utilize a different van that can deliver a longer-lasting charge.
Although electric vehicles currently represent just 1% of the car population, Wearnes believes now is the perfect time to pilot this new mobile EV charger platform. “This is the best time to pilot this new mobile EV charger platform because the numbers are low. That’s why it’s actually manageable and it allows us to troubleshoot and make improvements to this setup,” Ms. Tu shared with CNA.
ELECTRIC RIDE-SHARING SERVICES
Another firm looking to capitalize on the growing interest in electric vehicles is EVCo. The company plans to make 550 electric commercial vans available for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to lease next year. Those who rent one of these vans will also gain access to over 20 mobile charging vans.
EVCo managing director Fuji Foo stated, “With mobile charging now, instead of having drivers search for chargers and worry about their range, we are bringing the charging service directly to them.” The vans will be available for lease on a quarterly or yearly basis, with fuel savings potentially making the cost of leasing an electric van more affordable than a traditional one.
One SME participating in a pilot run with EVCo is SOS Logistics Solutions. Co-founder Markus Lim told CNA that this system could encourage more of their drivers to transition to electric vehicles. Delivery drivers will no longer need to seek out a charging station after a long 12- to 14-hour workday and can park their vehicles anywhere, just as they would with diesel-powered vans. “This way, it actually does not disrupt the system in terms of how the traditional leasing model operates,” he noted.
The introduction of these charging services precedes the establishment of a new law regulating EV charging, set to be debated in Parliament this year. The legislation could introduce licensing and mandatory registration for the sector. Market players are confident that they currently meet local and international safety standards but are prepared to adapt to any upcoming regulations. “As and when regulations come forth, we will have to review again… and thereafter we will see what the new requirements are and how we can comply accordingly,” said Wearnes’ Ms. Tu.
