SINGAPORE (Feb 18): Singapore is aiming to phase out vehicles running on conventional internal combustion engines (ICE) by 2040, according to deputy prime minister Heng Swee Keat.
Speaking in Parliament in his Singapore Budget 2020 speech, Heng says the city state will have all vehicles run on cleaner energy – such as hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles (EVs) – within the next 20 years.
To this end, the government will enhance incentives to encourage the adoption of cleaner and more environmentally friendly vehicles.
The government will also expand the public charging infrastructure for EVs.
With the help of the private sector, the government targets to deploy up to 28,000 chargers at public carparks island-wide – up from the 1,600 charging points currently.
“The government will take the lead,” Heng says. “We will progressively procure and use cleaner vehicles to do our part for the environment.”
“Here we are placing a significant bet on EVs, and leaning policy in that direction because it is the most promising technology,” he adds.
