Can Singapore 'electrify' the world?

[Darthrevan]

Singapore's great weakness is that it is an absurdly small nation. Paradoxically, one great strength of Singapore is that it is an absurdly small nation. Hence, Singapore can try things out on a national scale that few other nations can dream about.

 

Let me suggest one such bold national project. Let Singapore become the first country in the world to have an all-electric fleet of vehicles: cars, trucks, taxis, buses, etc. Singapore can create a new chapter in world history by becoming the first country in the world not to have petrol-fuelled engines on the road. And why should Singapore do this? There will be at least three massive benefits from doing so.

Healthier population

FIRST, Singaporeans will breathe much cleaner air. Without petrol and diesel engines, there will be much less carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, particulate matter and other pollutants in the air. As a result, I have no doubt that the health of Singaporeans will improve. There will be fewer instances of asthmatic attacks, and incidents of cancer may also go down. Singapore will also become the quietest city in the world.

Economists have not yet established simple and easy ways of measuring such “positive externalities” that will flow from an all-electric fleet in Singapore. Yet, there is no doubt that the environment will improve massively. Singaporeans will become a happier nation and Singapore will become an ever more attractive destination for the best global talent. (Oops, maybe I shouldn’t say this!)

Second, Singapore would be positioning itself for the day when a global carbon tax or emissions trading system is introduced.

The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change just released its latest climate change report. The evidence is now irrefutable. Human activity, especially in the form of greenhouse gas emissions, is warming the planet.

Many countries will suffer the negative effects of rising sea levels and bouts of extreme weather. Singapore will be one of the biggest losers if the worst-case scenario unfolds. While Singapore is too small to make a large difference to climate change mitigation efforts, an all-electric fleet would help us deal with a global carbon tax, thus boosting national competitiveness.

Delay climate change

BY CREATING an all-electric transportation system, Singapore can help to delay climate change. How? Singapore’s behaviour alone will not make a massive difference. But bear in mind that the Asian middle-class population is about to explode, from about 500 million now to 1.75 billion by 2020. If these new middle-class citizens begin buying petrol-burning cars, the planet will be literally, not metaphorically, fried. Clearly, some powerful examples will be needed to demonstrate that the world would be better off not buying petrol-burning cars. By going all-electric, Singapore will act as a key catalytic agent to help to prevent global warming.

The manufacture of electric cars emits more carbon than that of traditional vehicles because of the energy-intensive methods used to mine, smelt and process the iron, lithium and rare earth elements that go into the batteries and other components of electric cars. But studies have shown that electric vehicles make up for this by having much lower carbon emissions when they are in use.

Most of Singapore’s electricity is generated from natural gas, a relatively clean fossil fuel. Using electric cars will result in an effective 66 per cent reduction of carbon emissions in comparison with petrol- and diesel-powered cars.

Cars as status symbols

THE third benefit of creating an all-electric fleet is that it will help to reduce the obsession with cars as a status symbol, as electric cars will simply be seen as functional vehicles to get from point A to point B. For the few Singaporeans who insist on having status symbols like Maseratis, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, I would like to strongly recommend the Tesla, the environmentally friendly status symbol. By moving to an all-electric fleet, we shift the status competition in Singapore away from having the most powerful and fastest cars to having the most environmentally friendly ones. So who should lead the charge to convert Singapore’s car fleet into an all-electric one? I think I know what is going on in the mind of any Singaporean who is reading this sentence. Every Singaporean will expect the Government to take the lead. Unfortunately, this is the wrong answer. If the Government tries a top-down strategy, there will be a lot of resistance. The only way such a massive change can take place smoothly is for it to be a bottom-up initiative.

New developmental approach

INDEED, as Singapore approaches the 50th anniversary of its independence and Singaporeans ponder on the next 50 years, the country should consider a major change of approach to the future development of the country. Singapore has been extraordinarily successful in our first 50 years because of a remarkable number of government-initiated policies. Let me just cite Singapore Airlines, Changi Airport, PSA, and the Singapore Newater story as a few examples. None of these were citizen initiatives.

However, for the next 50 years, we will need a balance of government-led and citizen-led initiatives. Making Singapore the first electric vehicle nation should be the first citizen-led initiative in the nation’s history.

Anyone who thinks that a single citizen cannot make a significant difference should look at the record of Tesla Motors and its chief executive Elon Musk. Mr Musk is giving a personal guarantee (including with his personal money) that the Tesla will retain as much second-hand value as the equivalent Mercedes.

Even more astoundingly, he has begun building charging stations so that you can drive from Los Angeles to New York in a Tesla. If you can drive across a large country like the United States in an electric vehicle, it is surely possible to do so in Singapore. No charging station in Singapore will be more than a few kilometres away. In fact, charging stations could even be installed in private parking lots and driveways.

The Government can help by creating an infrastructure that supports electric vehicles. It could also provide tax and other benefits. Currently, because of the high cost of electric vehicle batteries, such cars cost more, thus placing the vehicle in a higher tax bracket than cheaper but less environmentally friendly cars.

Even the recently introduced Carbon Emissions-Based Vehicle Scheme does not offset the higher costs. Sadly, Tesla had to close its dealership in Singapore without selling a single fully electric car after less than a year because it was not able to receive “green tax benefits” from the Government.

But the benefits that would flow from the creation of an all-electric fleet would be far greater than the tax revenues that the Government stands to lose in giving out tax benefits.

In short, it is a “no-brainer” for Singapore to become the first country in the world with an all-electric vehicle fleet. No other country can do it as easily as Singapore.

The benefits in all dimensions – environmental, health, social – will far outweigh any costs. Indeed, I cannot think of any real cost to making the change. So the big question is: Which citizen of Singapore will stand up and take the lead? If the movement succeeds, it will “electrify” both Singapore and the world. The hour has come. Let the right man or woman stand up and lead the movement.

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/can-singapore-electrify-the-world-20131012

[Maseratigood]

Good idea!!!!

 

A few things LTA, IRAS, etc will have to think about:-

 

How to continue making $$$$ with COE since 'cc' method will no longer applies and hp of such plug-in cars will be low?

 

IRAS will lose big time tax revenue from petrol consumption

 

But overall, looking at the so-called grand scheme of things, this idea is worth exploring :-)

[Leafable]

Great article Darthraven! Well done. Sadly we can only dream on it. Singapore only interested on the green papers not the green house gas issue.

 

Hope father christmas can grant me my wish to zipping around in this again in Singapore. Best car I've ever owned!

[I-LOVE-CARS]

A great idea but a key concern that needed to be address is the Infrastructure Cost...

 

1)Is it financially viable to modify at least 25-30% of the lots in present MSCP to give the lots the capabilities to charge the electric vehicles?

2)Will private entities (Ie. Hotels/Shopping Malls/Condos/etc.) modify an X% of their car lots to give the lots the capabilities to charge the electric vehicles and who will pay for the modifications, or will the Gov. introduce incentives to encourage such private entities to modify at least X% of the car lots?

Edited October 13, 2013 by I-LOVE-CARS

[Throttle2]

A great idea but a key concern that needed to be address is the Infrastructure Cost...

 

1)Is it financially viable to modify at least 25-30% of the lots in present MSCP to give the lots the capabilities to charge the electric vehicles?

2)Will private entities (Ie. Hotels/Shopping Malls/Condos/etc.) modify an X% of their car lots to give the lots the capabilities to charge the electric vehicles and who will pay for the modifications, or will the Gov. introduce incentives to encourage such private entities to modify at least X% of the car lots?

If they can rip up old monumental buildings and build new ones like nobody's business, whats a few sockets? Cheap cheap.

[Kangadrool]

The viable alternative is hybrid rather than pure electric unless one charge to the batt, the batt is self-sustaining throughout the entire life of the car.

Edited October 13, 2013 by Kangadrool

[Maseratigood]

The viable alternative is hybrid rather than pure electric unless one charge to the batt, the batt is self-sustaining throughout the entire life of the car.

If all the 5 seats in the car come with foot peddles each to generate electricity to run the car, then our gahmen won't need to spend their precious momey to build any infrastructure for elec cars...... just kidding

[Fcw75]

Singapore is the ideal country for electric vehicles coz of the size. Unfortunately the govt do not want to invest in the infrastructure because money is all that matters to them.

[Friendstar]

Not true.

 

They worry about offending the oil cartels

[Alheych]

Not true.

 

They worry about offending the oil cartels

 

actually, oil cartels probably can't be bothered about Singapore. we're a small market which barely makes a dent on their balance sheets.

 

what Kishore Mahbubani is advocating is that Singapore tries. it doesn't mean that others will follow. good if they do, never mind if they don't, because we can still reap the benefits. it's a bit unrealistic to expect that Singapore becomes a leader in this, but we can indeed show other cities that this can be done.

 

if Singapore doesn't do it, who can?

[Lightbringer]

Singapore is the ideal country for electric vehicles coz of the size. Unfortunately the govt do not want to invest in the infrastructure because money is all that matters to them.

 

And on what do you base this assertion?

[Pisces69]

When I was reading I first thought the TS was the one who wrote this extremely well written post.

Good idea!!!!

A few things LTA, IRAS, etc will have to think about:-

How to continue making $$$$ with COE since 'cc' method will no longer applies and hp of such plug-in cars will be low?

IRAS will lose big time tax revenue from petrol consumption

But overall, looking at the so-called grand scheme of things, this idea is worth exploring :-)

 

 

To cover the loss of tax revenue when switching to an All Electric Vehicle Population, gharmen just needs to install charging points at all parking lots in MSCP n shopping ctrs etc n charge 5 times the cost of electricity.

 

Maybe ty end up making even more revenue than the taxes lost on petrol n diesel.

 

But then again ty wil hv to write off Jurong Island. Now can ty stomach that?

[Pisces69]

If all the 5 seats in the car come with foot peddles each to generate electricity to run the car, then our gahmen won't need to spend their precious momey to build any infrastructure for elec cars...... just kidding

 

 

Nooooo........Gharmen wil not allow electric cars to hv these self generating equipments cos then selling electricity at charging points installed at carparks wil b the NEW cash cow of the gharmen.

 

Imagine selling electricity at 5 or 10 times the cost. Such potential.

Not true.

 

They worry about offending the oil cartels

 

 

If ty think ty can make more money selling electricity at charging points, ty wil send the cartels packing in the blink of an eye.

[Maseratigood]

When I was reading I first thought the TS was the one who wrote this extremely well written post.

 

 

 

To cover the loss of tax revenue when switching to an All Electric Vehicle Population, gharmen just needs to install charging points at all parking lots in MSCP n shopping ctrs etc n charge 5 times the cost of electricity.

 

Maybe ty end up making even more revenue than the taxes lost on petrol n diesel.

 

But then again ty wil hv to write off Jurong Island. Now can ty stomach that?

Ok lah, I think jurong island makes things mainly for export or other industrial uses, our local petrol consumptions quite peanut to these companies

 

Worst to worst just convert these plants into dorms for ft n fw

[Pisces69]

 

actually, oil cartels probably can't be bothered about Singapore. we're a small market which barely makes a dent on their balance sheets.

 

what Kishore Mahbubani is advocating is that Singapore tries. it doesn't mean that others will follow. good if they do, never mind if they don't, because we can still reap the benefits. it's a bit unrealistic to expect that Singapore becomes a leader in this, but we can indeed show other cities that this can be done.

 

if Singapore doesn't do it, who can?

 

 

But Hybrids wil b a more realistic option for SG. Otherwise how r we going to travel north on Road Trips in future.

 

Pure electric vehicle population is only feasible in an island isolated from other countries or the mainland. Maybe Langkawi cud try. All petrol/diesel vehicles wil b banned from the island. Tourists wil hv to rent electric vehicles if ty wan to drive around the island.

[Maseratigood]

 

 

Nooooo........Gharmen wil not allow electric cars to hv these self generating equipments cos then selling electricity at charging points installed at carparks wil b the NEW cash cow of the gharmen.

 

Imagine selling electricity at 5 or 10 times the cost. Such poteentail.....

Can I chop some IPO shares when these charging companies go public?

[Pisces69]

Ok lah, I think jurong island makes things mainly for export or other industrial uses, our local petrol consumptions quite peanut to these companies

 

Worst to worst just convert these plants into dorms for ft n fw

 

 

Well it was worth their while to set up there so the SG market must hv been attractive enough. Maybe with assurances that ty wil hv a captive market to sell their petrol/diesel to at a price which makes it worth their while.

 

Oh n I see the IB has already joined us in this thread. Lets see what he has to say here.

Can I chop some IPO shares when these charging companies go public?

 

 

With such earning potential, u think the gharmen wil want to share it with u?

 

Maybe after ty hv milked it till its almost dry wil ty start selling shares to the public.

[Pisces69]

Singapore is the ideal country for electric vehicles coz of the size. Unfortunately the govt do not want to invest in the infrastructure because money is all that matters to them.

 

 

Ah..... but if ty think ty can make more money selling electricity at charging points?

 

Imagine all charging points r installed only by gharmen n nobody else. Ty can charge anything ty want for the electricity. Something like petrol now.

 

But it wud b funny to see so many wires running from flats to the MSCP every night to illegally charge their cars.

 

Then ty employ the same pple who issue carpark summons to either trace which unit these wires come from or ty cut the wires every night. Hahaha.

 

Or every electric car can only have a special plug that fits the socket installed by the gharmen.