Fact check!
The take-up of electric vehicles (EVs) is picking up speed around the world and Singapore is no exception. But misconceptions about EVs persist which might hamper efforts to get more drivers to jump on the electric powertrain. We delve into these misconceptions and highlight what’s real and what’s not about EVs.
Misconception 1:
What they say: EVs don’t have enough range
What we found: Range is more than enough for daily commute
It is unlikely that you will be stuck on a busy highway because the battery has gone flat in your EV. EVs today can go farther than the average daily distance covered by drivers, which in Singapore’s case is about 55km.
Most fully electric vehicles have a range of more than 250km. Some go way further. For example, the fully-electric BMW i4 eDrive40 delivers a class-leading range of up to 591km. The new Atto 3 100kw (COE Category A) has a range of 565km, which is more than enough to go around Singapore four times!
If you still have range anxiety, consider a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) instead. It runs on both battery and an internal combustion engine (ICE) and switches from battery mode to petrol automatically.
Check out BMW electric vehiclesMisconception 2:
What they say: EVs take a long time to charge
What we found: About 30 minutes to charge an EV
Your EV’s battery size and the charging rate of the charging points will affect the speed and time needed to charge your EV. But developments in fast charging technology have significantly reduced charging times.
>>READ: How to extend your EV battery life
For example, the fully-electric Peugeot e-2008 takes 30 mins to reach an 80% vehicle charge with a 100kW DC charger. Among public charging stations in Singapore, Shell has said that it can provide 0% to 80% charge for EVs in about 30 minutes with its 50kW DC chargers.
In any case, it is unlikely that kiasu Singaporeans will wait till their EV battery drains to 0% (not encouraged!) before recharging.
Misconception 3:
What they say: Hard to find a charging station
What we found: More charging stations rolled out
There are plans to aggressively install more public charging stations as Singapore prepares to phase out internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles by 2040.
There are over 3,600 EV charging points in the city currently. These include those operated by the SP Group, Shell Recharge and ChargeNow (Greenlots). By the end of 2023, the Government plans to install around 2,000 EV charging points in more than 700 HDB car parks. This will be ramped up to 60,000 EV charging points by 2030, of which 40,000 will be in public carparks and 20,000 in private premises.
Misconception 4:
What they say: EV batteries don’t last
What we found: EV batteries can outlive COE
Unlike your smartphone or laptop batteries, those in EVs are designed to last for years. The lifespan for EV batteries can be 10 to 20 years under normal driving conditions.
Many automakers cover their EV batteries by warranty. BMW, for example, offers up to 8 years warranty on the batteries for its EVs. BYD produces its own EV batteries and provides a battery warranty of 8 years or 500,000km, whichever comes first.
You can also help to extend the life of your EV batteries. There is no need to charge your EV every day unless you’re clocking crazy amounts of mileage. The best practice is to charge the power only to 80%. Though fast charging can be a convenient way to juice up your EV, it does contribute to faster battery degradation – so that’s something to take note.
>>NEXT: More misconceptions about electric vehicles
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Changing Perceptions
While it is true that the majority of vehicles in Singapore runs on petrol or diesel, the scale is expected to tip in favour of EVs in the near future. Among the main motivations for making a switch to EVs are environmental concerns and government incentives. As more facts emerge around EVs, drivers and potential car buyers may be more assured that these electric vehicles will not only benefit the environment but themselves as well.
