SP Group to build 500 electric vehicle charging points by 2020

The first batch of 30 charging points will be in operation by end of 2018.

SP Group (SP) has announced plans to launch Singapore’s largest public electric vehicle (EV) charging network, with 500 charging points installed nationwide by 2020.

According to an announcement, EV users can conveniently access the charging points at locations such as shopping malls, residential areas, business parks and industrial sites. The first batch of 30 charging points will be in operation by end of 2018.

Two tenders were launched for the electric vehicle charging network. The tenders are for the procurement of charging hardware for both AC (alternating current) and DC (direct current) chargers, and for the installation of the chargers.

This pervasive charging network will plug a critical gap in scaling up EV adoption in Singapore by reducing range anxiety in EV drivers, SP Group said. To address this gap, it is developing a mobile app that will allow EV users to make e-payments and receive real-time information such as the location and availability of charging points and automated updates on charging duration.

The island-wide network will be fully compliant with Singapore’s national charging standards and comprise both AC and DC chargers, with power ratings ranging from 22kW to 50kW. Of the 500 charging points, more than 100 will be 50kW-DC charging points, a fast charge technology that can fully charge an EV in as little as 30 minutes, the company claimed.

“Our nation-wide electric vehicle charging network will encourage greater adoption of green mobility, and support Singapore’s sustainability goals,” said SP Group CEO Wong Kim Yin.

SP Group said EVs offer lower operating costs in terms of energy and maintenance and zero tailpipe emissions.