SINGAPORE – Singapore’s adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) is going at the “right pace”, say industry experts, although some roadblocks in the charging of such vehicles remain.

These include patchy public education on EV charging, payment problems on charging apps, and the lack of integration across the platforms of various charging operators, said panellists at an In Perspective roundtable with The Straits Times on March 27.

Dr Tobias Massier, principal scientist at research platform TUMCREATE for collaborations between Singapore and the Technical University of Munich, said EV adoption here is “moving forward at the right pace”. He added that even though it is on the path of “exponential growth”, it is “not rushed”.

He described Singapore as “one of the best places” to make the EV switch, saying the country is small enough that range anxiety – or fear that a vehicle may run out of charge before reaching its destination – is not an issue.

But he also pointed to the need for a more integrated EV charging system. For instance, he suggested, there should be a unified app platform – integrating all EV chargers under various operators – that displays which charging spaces are available.

Incentives such as lower prices for users who charge their vehicles during off-peak hours or subscription-based charges for those with regular travel and charging habits also help manage demand and optimise the existing power grid, added Dr Massier.

Mr Julian Kho, editor of automo...