{"id":12180,"date":"2021-04-15T14:04:29","date_gmt":"2021-04-15T06:04:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.carro.sg\/?p=12180"},"modified":"2025-11-05T18:07:07","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T10:07:07","slug":"buying-electric-vehicle-singapore-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carro.co\/sg\/blog\/buying-electric-vehicle-singapore-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Buying an Electric Vehicle in Singapore: A Complete Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"Electric vehicles. Electric vehicles. Electric vehicles. Haven\u2019t we all heard it before? Not quite! Not when it comes to buying one at least! But before we jump into getting an EV, we need to consider what is classified as an electric vehicle.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\r\n

What is an Electric Car?<\/span><\/h2>\r\nElectric vehicles (EVs) are cars that are powered partly or entirely by electricity and there are 2 different types buyers can choose from -- a<\/span>ll-electric vehicles (AEVs)<\/span><\/strong> and <\/span>plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).<\/span><\/strong>\r\n\r\nAEVs depend solely on electricity to power themselves while PHEVs <\/span>have a dual option of plug-in charging and petrol to power themselves. <\/span>\r\n\r\nPHEVs are different from standard hybrids as standard hybrids cannot be charged. Instead, they derive their electrical power from regenerative braking and their internal combustion engine (ICE). Therefore, standard hybrids are not considered EVs.<\/span>\r\n\r\nConfused about the difference between AEVs and PHEVs? Here\u2019s a simple table breaking down their benefits and features.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
<\/td>AEV<\/th>PHEV<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Engine(s) <\/td>Only electric motor<\/td>Combustion and electric motor<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Range <\/td>Shorter <\/td>Longer due to its gas option<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Flexibility <\/td>Less
\n
\nReliant on charging only
\n<\/td>		More
\n
\nAccess to both gas and electricity. Drivers will have more power options.
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Maintenance <\/td>Not as frequent as ICE engines if needed at all.<\/td>Needed for ICE engine. The older it gets, the more maintenance it needs.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rebates and incentives<\/td>Eligible <\/td>Not eligible for all benefits<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Eco-friendliness <\/td>Yes*<\/td>Not as eco-friendly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\r\n\r\n*if the source of electricity is from renewable resources<\/span>\r\n

4 Reasons Why You Should Buy an Electric Car<\/span><\/h2>\r\nBesides doing your part in saving the environment and feeling better about it (<\/span>although that might not always be the case<\/span><\/a>), in practical terms, you\u2019ll see long-term savings!<\/span>\r\n

1. Costs of electricity vs petrol\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\r\nElectricity is definitely the winner here, hands down!<\/span>\r\n\r\n\"\"\r\n\r\nIn fact, according to a\u00a0<\/span>2018 study, it costs roughly half as much to power an EV compared to an ICE car<\/span><\/a>. Exact figures may vary due to the differences in electrical costs with our Open Electricity Market and fuel prices deferring from petrol stations.<\/span>\r\n\r\nHowever, overall, you\u2019ll still net in savings! <\/span>\r\n\r\nA quick check on several EV car sites will also inform you of how much you\u2019ll save by driving the particular EV you choose. Also, even if you can't afford the luxury of having an EV charger installed in your home,<\/span> charging stations will still be vastly cheaper than pumping petrol across the span of 10 years.<\/span>\r\n

2. Lower maintenance cost<\/span><\/h3>\r\nMaintenance is an important and expensive cost to keep your car running smoothly. That\u2019s if you own an ICE car! <\/span>\r\n\r\n\"car\r\n\r\nFortunately for EVs, they come without the complicated parts of an ICE engine. Instead, they have their huge battery pack to power the electric engine and that\u2019s the only \u201cengine part\u201d you\u2019ll need to replace if necessary. <\/span>\r\n\r\nIt\u2019s noted to be expensive to replace but with many car companies making battery warranty a standard in the industry, with many offering warranties for 6 - 10 years, you won't be slapped with a $10,000 battery replacement fee anytime soon.<\/span>\r\n\r\nSo... say goodbye to regular visits to your car workshop that'll cost a bomb!<\/span>\r\n

\u00a03. <\/span>No ICE cars by 2040\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\r\nWith the deadline set for the phasing out of ICE vehicles, Singapore is serious in its stance to push for EVs to take over the roads. And for the everyday driver, perhaps we should make the shift early before the dealerships get overwhelmed by the demand which could potentially drive prices up!<\/span>\r\n

4. Save money with Government rebates<\/span><\/h3>\r\nYou\u2019ve probably heard it before, but Budget 2021 has plenty of perks for EV buyers!<\/span>\r\n\r\n
\"\"
Source: CNA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\nSome of these benefits include no Additional Registration Fee (ARF), a 45% rebate on your ARF for full-electric cars (capped at $45), and a further rebate of $5000 on the Vehicular Emission Scheme (VES)!\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nSo if your EV qualifies under the A1 band you\u2019ll get a total of $25,000. Vehicles under A2 will still enjoy a $15,000 rebate. This will only take place from 1st July 2021, so you might want to buy your EV in the second half of this year to enjoy these benefits!<\/span>\r\n

Which Electric Car to Buy?<\/span><\/h2>\r\nConvinced? Then the next step is to consider which model to get! Just like getting a petrol car, it\u2019s best to consider your lifestyle and the purpose of your car before narrowing down your choice of models.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nBut when it comes to electric cars, there are a few additional points to take note of. In our evaluation criteria, we considered its range and charging rate along with traditional markers such as price, features and functions, and driver experience.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nSo here\u2019s our pick of the best EV options that are available in Singapore right now!\u00a0<\/span>\r\n
Jaguar I-Pace<\/span><\/h5>\r\n
\"Jaguar
Source: Jaguar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n<\/colgroup>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Range<\/strong><\/td>\r\n470km<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Charging Time<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
DC Charger 50kW<\/td>\r\n1.5 hours<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
DC Charger 100kW<\/td>\r\n45 mins<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Cost<\/strong><\/td>\r\n$358,999<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Features<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Torque vectoring by braking, active air suspension, adaptive dynamics, configurable dynamics, adaptive surface response, all surface progress control, low traction launch, enhanced brake regeneration, heavy traffic braking, heavy traffic braking, heat pump.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n
Tesla - Model 3 (Performance)\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\r\n\"Tesla\r\n<\/colgroup>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Range<\/strong><\/td>\r\n567km<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Charging Time<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Supercharger<\/td>\r\n40 mins for 80%<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Cost<\/strong><\/td>\r\n$154,815<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Features<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Autopilot, over-the-air updates, wireless charging, all-glass roof, wifi connectivity, voice command, Nextflix, games<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n
MG ZS<\/span><\/h5>\r\n\"M\r\n<\/colgroup>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Range<\/strong><\/td>\r\n335km<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Charging Time<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
DC Charging<\/td>\r\n40 mins for 80%<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Cost<\/strong><\/td>\r\n$116,888<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Features<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth hands-free system, 8\u201d console<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\nWant more options? <\/span>Check out these electric cars you should look out for this year!<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>\r\n

Where to buy an EV?<\/span><\/h2>\r\n

Dealerships<\/span><\/h3>\r\n\"\"\r\n\r\nBuying an EV is pretty much the same as buying ICE vehicles! You could just pop into your usual car dealerships, talk to your salesmen and test drive the EV you\u2019ve been eyeing. <\/span>\r\n\r\nHowever, there are some dealerships that are better prepared and maybe even 'experts' in EVs. So, do your research!<\/span>\r\n

Buying Online<\/span><\/h3>\r\n\"\"\r\n\r\nOr if you\u2019re buying a Tesla, it\u2019s even easier! With Elon Musk swearing off car dealerships, you\u2019ll just need to visit the\u00a0<\/span>Tesla website<\/span><\/a> and pick your car. You can even customise your model with a few simple clicks and see what it\u2019ll look like.<\/span>\r\n\r\nOther car brands are not to be beaten in the online race! <\/span>\r\n\r\nIn fact, most established car brands have the option of purchasing their cars online. So if you hate bargaining for the best price or just talking to salesmen in general, you can avoid all that.<\/span>\r\n\r\nAnd if you\u2019re worried about missing out on their all essential test drive, just arrange for one online as well. So you won't have to miss out on trying out the instant acceleration first hand.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nIt\u2019s basically the same as getting a conventional ICE car!<\/span>\r\n

So... Petrol or Electric?<\/span><\/h2>\r\n

Costs\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\r\nAlthough EVs come with plenty of savings in terms of petrol, they're still quite costly! <\/span>\r\n\r\nIn general, the initial cost of buying an EV (not including the rebates) is higher than a regular ICE car. This is due to the lack of economies of scale which ICE cars definitely enjoy right now. <\/span>\r\n\r\nHowever, it's important to note that the price of an EV battery is super expensive too. These can cost up to $10,000, and if your EV battery life starts to decrease over time after the warranty is over, replacing it would be painful for your wallet (and your heart)!\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nBut over time, and with technological advancements, these costs will eventually reduce! <\/span>To provide a better picture of the situation, here\u2019s how a similar ICE compares to an EV in terms of cost.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nDo note that many price lists tend to include the subsidies to the cost of the car, so make sure to read the terms and conditions when calculating how much you\u2019ll have to pay for your EV!<\/span>\r\n\r\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Type of car<\/th>ICE<\/th>EV<\/th>ICE<\/th>EV<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Car Model<\/td>Mitsubishi Outlander CVT <\/td>MG ZS electric <\/td>Mazda 3 Hatchback Astina<\/td>Renault Zoe<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cost of car<\/td>$134,999<\/td>$148,888<\/td>$141,888<\/td>$184,999<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fuel cost<\/td>$150.57\u00b9<\/td>\u2264$15\u00b2<\/td>$121.89\u00b9
\n<\/td>		$22.50\u00b2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Range<\/td>520KM\u00b3<\/td>335KM<\/td>600KM\u00b3<\/td>367KM<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ARF<\/td>$19,9676<\/td>$0<\/td>$30,829<\/td>$0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
VES<\/td>$0 (Band b)<\/td>$25,000\u2074<\/td>$15,000 (Band A2) <\/td>$25,000\u2074<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
EEAI <\/td>$0<\/td>$11,449\u2074<\/td>$0<\/td>$14,376\u2074<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Road tax<\/td>S$314<\/td>$831\u2074<\/td>$314<\/td>$306.94\u2074<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\r\n\r\n\u00b9Assuming petrol price as of 16 march from SPC at $2.39 per litre and a pumping a full tank<\/span>\r\n\r\n\u00b2Assuming DC charging with a price of $15\/h\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n\u00b3Assuming city driving conditions\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n\u2074From 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2023<\/span>\r\n

Not THAT environmentally friendly?<\/span><\/h3>\r\n
\"\"
source: investor.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\nAlthough the push for electricity-powered cars may seem like a better alternative to ICE cars, Singapore does not get electricity from renewable sources. Instead, we still burn natural gas to generate electricity so it\u2019s still polluting the environment.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nMoreover, the life cycle of the EV isn't that great, mining for lithium, the main component in its batteries, is harmful to the environment too.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n

Lack of good hard options<\/span><\/h3>\r\nThe idea of the EV is definitely not new. But in Singapore, we\u2019re still warming up to the idea. <\/span>\r\n\r\nThus, newer and better models are not available here due to the lack of demand. But they are ready for sale in other countries, so it might be better to hold out on buying an EV for now, at least until better options appear on the market! <\/span>\r\n\r\nModels to look out for include the 2021 Hyundai Kona, Renault Zoe 5.0 battery, and Tesla\u2019s Model S. <\/span>\r\n\r\nFor a more comprehensive list, check out\u00a0<\/span>7 Best Electric Cars to Drive in Singapore<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>6 of the Best New Electric Cars Coming in 2021<\/span><\/a>!\u00a0<\/span>\r\n

Inadequate charging system<\/span><\/h3>\r\nRight now, the charging infrastructure in Singapore is pretty weak. While there are plans in place to solve this, it'll still take some time for these plans to be realised. <\/span>\r\n\r\nAnd with most of us in HDB flats, overnight charging is practically useless because chargers have to be shared. <\/span>Although the government is promoting the sharing system, the time taken to charge is longer than pumping up at the gas station. This thus requires more planning and potential queues at these charging spots look to be intimidating when some cars require up to 2 hours for an 80% charge!\u00a0<\/span>\r\n

So, buy or don't buy?<\/span><\/h2>\r\nIf you live in a landed house with access to overnight charging, have plenty of money, just really like electric cars or have the patience to wait at charging stations, by all means, go for it! <\/span>\r\n\r\nBut if you don\u2019t have any of the above, we don\u2019t recommend it, at least not for now! Instead, wait a little longer for the charging infrastructure to be built before jumping into an EV.<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Electric vehicles. Electric vehicles. Electric vehicles. Haven\u2019t we all heard it before? Not quite! Not when it comes to buying one at least! But before we jump into getting an EV, we need to consider what is classified as an electric vehicle.\u00a0\u00a0 What is an Electric Car? Electric vehicles (EVs) are cars that are powered …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":59,"featured_media":12221,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[721],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12180","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-car-buying-tips"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carro.co\/sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12180","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carro.co\/sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carro.co\/sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carro.co\/sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/59"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carro.co\/sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12180"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/carro.co\/sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12180\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16038,"href":"https:\/\/carro.co\/sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12180\/revisions\/16038"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carro.co\/sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12221"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carro.co\/sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12180"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carro.co\/sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12180"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carro.co\/sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12180"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}