Grab to roll out fleet of 200 electric vehicles

SINGAPORE — Grab is the latest transport operator to jump on the electric vehicle bandwagon, announcing on Thursday (Aug 23) that it is rolling out a fleet of 200 new electric vehicles, which will tap utility provider Singapore Power's (SP) fast-charging network.

In a joint news release by Grab and SP Group, the ride-hailing giant said the new fleet will be progressively rolled out in Singapore from early next year. While it did not provide details on the model of the electric vehicle it is bringing in, it said the model has a "sporty style and spacious interior" and has an estimated range of 400km per charge.

Drivers who take up the new model will enjoy preferential electric vehicle charging rates at all SP Group charging stations islandwide and discounted parking at some partner venues.

Specific details will be announced later, when SP Group is expected to set up the first 30 charging points.

SP Group announced in June that it will be installing 500 new charging points across the island by 2020, with the first 30 operational by the end of this year.

Of the 500 charging points, more than 100 will be 50kW-DC (direct current) charging points, which is a fast charge technology that can fully charge an electric vehicle in less than 30 minutes. The rest will run on AC (alternating current), which is a slower charge.

Existing chargers currently run at rates between 7.4kW and 8kW, which can take anywhere between two and eight hours to fully charge an electric vehicle.

SP Group said that the points will be located at shopping malls, residential areas, business parks and industrial sites, among others. In Thursday's release, SP Group added that it plans to install charging points in "close-proximity to coffee-shops and food outlets" to allow drivers to match their charging time with meal and driving breaks.

There are currently 40 electric vehicle charging points owned by SP Group across the island, most of which are located at the firm's depots.

This partnership provides Grab drivers with "greater time and cost savings, maximising daily income", said Grab. As such, they expect drivers using electric vehicles to earn up to 25 per cent more in daily income, compared to those on regular petrol vehicles.

Head of Grab Singapore Lim Kell Jay said: "We have heard from our driver-partners that a faster charge time and longer electric vehicle driving range are important considerations for them when making the switch to electric vehicles. We have taken their feedback on board and have negotiated the best deals to bring them concrete savings and the best vehicle model to cater to their driving needs."

Adding that the company was "proud and happy" to partner with SP, he said that "Grab is in a unique position to help drive a cleaner, greener Singapore by encouraging more of our drivers to adopt electric vehicles".

SP Group's head of strategic development Goh Chee Kiong was confident that the partnership will "accelerate the wider adoption of electric vehicles in Singapore".

He said: "The pervasive fast-charging network will provide Grab's electric vehicle drivers with convenience and speed in charging their vehicles, while helping them to achieve energy and cost savings."

Besides Grab, the other transport operators who have expanded their electric vehicle fleet include ComfortDelGro, which is buying up to 1,200 petrol-electric Hyundai Ioniq Hybrids, which will be delivered by the middle of 2019. The taxi giant also trialled two fully-electric Hyundai cabs in July this year.

HDT Singapore Taxi has also been operating about 100 electric-powered cabs under a two year trial, and had been awarded a full-fledged taxi service operator licence just last month. It has said it will gradually increase its fleet size to at least 800 electric taxis in Singapore within four years. 

Other ride-hailing firms in Singapore such as Ryde and Tada declined to comment on whether they had similar plans to add electric vehicles into their fleets.