Singapore’s Push for Cleaner Transport Gains Traction
SINGAPORE: Electric vehicles (EVs) accounted for 8.4% of all new car registrations in the first five months of this year, more than doubling the total for all of 2021, Transport Minister S Iswaran announced on Wednesday (Jun 8). This figure reflects a remarkable 20-fold increase compared to the same period in 2020.
Mr. Iswaran highlighted these statistics to showcase the effectiveness of Singapore’s initiative to transition all vehicles to cleaner energy by 2040. “We expect this momentum to continue to build,” he stated during his keynote address at Ecosperity Week, an annual sustainability conference hosted by Temasek.
Addressing a common concern among EV owners, he reiterated the government’s commitment to enhancing Singapore’s charging infrastructure. By 2025, the plan is to equip 2,000 public housing car parks with electric vehicle chargers, aiming for a comprehensive network of 60,000 chargers by 2030. “In short, we want to eliminate range anxiety,” Mr. Iswaran affirmed.
Earlier this year, he set a target to reduce land transport emissions—currently responsible for 15% of Singapore’s total emissions—by 80% from their peak in 2016 by the middle of the century. He noted that industry partners are ramping up efforts to promote EV adoption.
For instance, Surbana Jurong is collaborating with SP Group to establish an EV charging hub at its new global headquarters in the Jurong Innovation District, which, upon completion, will feature 250 charging lots, making it the largest hub in Southeast Asia.
Mr. Iswaran also discussed initiatives to decarbonise Singapore’s heavy vehicle fleet as part of a broader green transport agenda. In addition to introducing 3,000 electric public buses—half of the total fleet—he mentioned logistics companies like DHL, Bollore, and Kuehne+Nagel are utilizing tax incentives to transition their vehicles to cleaner energy models.
Greener Aviation and Maritime
Shifting focus to aviation and maritime sectors, Mr. Iswaran outlined Singapore’s vision to become a sustainable global connectivity hub. The country is not only actively involved in initiatives like the First Movers Coalition but is also forging partnerships aimed at sustainable aviation and maritime decarbonisation.
“Our seaport and airport rank among the most efficient globally. To reach the next level of efficiency, we are heavily investing in digitalisation, which benefits both the environment and businesses,” said Mr. Iswaran.
He cited the Maritime Port Authority’s (MPA) DigitalPORT@STM—an integrated portal for port transactions that streamlines clearance processes and optimises marine service delivery, leading to quicker turnarounds and enhanced fuel efficiency.
Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is harnessing advanced air traffic management capabilities and collaborating with aviation partners to optimise flight operations, contributing to reductions in fuel consumption and aircraft emissions.
