Singapore Green Plan - Electric Vehicles

Singapore aims to develop a greener and more sustainable land transport sector, reducing peak land transport emissions by 80%, by or around mid-century. The Singapore Green Plan 2030 includes a strong push to electrify our vehicle population, which would help Singapore achieve our vision of 100% cleaner energy vehicles by 2040. 

To support this, LTA have launched a new campaign to raise awareness of Electric Vehicles (EVs), their benefits to owners and the environment, as well as how we can all contribute towards the responsible and gracious sharing of charging infrastructure.

Electric Vehicle Campaign Logo

The campaign logo and tagline, ‘Power EVery Move’ calls on everyone to participate in the adoption of EVs for a greener and more sustainable future.

As we accelerate EV adoption for a more sustainable land transport system, here are some safety and fire safety related requirement 

Charging Standards and Installation of EV Chargers

Technical Reference 25

A nationwide electric vehicle (EV) charging standard, Technical Reference 25 (TR 25), was established in 2010 to provide technical safety requirements for EV charging systems (EVCS) in Singapore. 

The latest version of the technical reference is TR 25:2022, which supersedes the TR 25:2016. Please refer to this summary for the key changes to the revised TR 25. Chargers that have received a Letter of No Objection (LNO) need not be re-certified to TR 25:2022. The LTA EV Charging System Verification Panel (EVP) will continue to accept applications for LNOs based on TR 25:2016 for a period of two years after the TR 25:2022 is published. The exact cut-off date will be announced closer to 2024. 

To give the industry time to transit to the latest requirements in TR 25:2022, there will be a six-month transition period before compliance with the maintenance and installation requirements in the revised TR 25:2022 becomes mandatory. 

You can purchase a copy of the revised TR 25:2022 on the Singapore Standards website.

National Public Charging Standards

Type 2 AC and Combo-2 DC charging systems are adopted as the National Public Charging Standards (NPCS). In March 2020, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the Energy Market Authority (EMA) jointly announced the addition of CHAdeMO charging systems as an Optional Public Charging Standards (OPCS) for EVs. This means that public charging stations can be provided with CHAdeMO charging point options, in addition to the mandatory Type 2 AC/ Combo 2 DEC chargers.  This enables providers of EV chargers to bring in a larger range of public charging options for drivers and supports the wider adoption of EVs in Singapore.

Proper Installation of EV Chargers

You should engage a Licensed Electrical Worker (LEW) and an equipment specialist to install, test, and certify the fitness of the EV Charging System (EVCS) installation before it is put into service. Please refer to the 'Requirements for Testing & Inspection of EVCS' section below for details on the commissioning of an EVCS. Before its installation, the equipment specialist must check that the EV Supply Equipment (EVSE) is issued with a Letter of No Objection (LNO) to ensure that it complies with TR 25 or the relevant International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards and the essential tests as per the Technical Compliance Checklist. 

The owner is responsible for the safe use and operation of the EVCS. To ensure this, regular maintenance, electrical safety inspection and testing shall be carried out on the EVCS according to TR 25:2022. Please refer to the section Inspection & Maintenance of EV Charging Systems for more details. 

EV chargers and charging cables must be installed in appropriate locations, without obstructing motorists and other users. Please refer to the non-exhaustive examples below:

• EV chargers should not block driving lanes and footpaths
• Charging cables should not dangle over or go across footpaths when in use
• When the charger is not in use, there should be sufficient floor space for the charging cables such that they do not intrude into the parking lots, driving lanes and footpaths
• Wall-mounted EV Chargers shall not enter the space above parking lots, driving lanes and footpaths
• When a vehicle is parked in an EV lot, the chargers and accompanying equipment shall not block the vehicle doors

And here is the fire safety requirement

CLAUSE 10.4 -ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV) CHARGING INSTALLATION

10.4.1 General

The requirements in Cl.10.4.2 are exempted for PG I buildings.

10.4.2 Emergency main isolation shut-off switches

a. Each EV charging station shall be provided with at least one emergency main isolation shut-off switch(es) located such that no person need to travel more than 15m from the EV charging station and its parking lot(s) to reach a main isolation shut-off switch.

b. If more than one EV charging station is provided, the main isolation shut-off switch(es) shall be provided such that no person need to travel more than 15m from any EV charging station and its associated parking lot(s) to reach a main isolation shut-off switch. 

c. Main isolation switch(es) shall be located on the same storey as the EV charging station(s) they serve. The purpose of such main isolation shut-off switch(es) is to provide a safe means of isolating the main electrical power supply to the entire EV charging system on the same storey.

d. Every EV charging stations and EV parking lots shall be located at least 3m away from the nearest edge of any main isolation shut-off switches.

Exception

Main isolation shut-off switches can be allowed to be less than 3m from an EV charging station and its parking lot(s), as long as there is at least one other main isolation shut-off switch located at least 3m away but still within 15m of this EV charging station and its parking lot(s).

e. Main isolation shut-off switches shall be located between 800mm and 1.2m above the finished floor level and shall be located in a clearly visible and easily accessible location.

f. All main isolation shut-off switches shall be clearly labelled. Clear instructions shall be indicated on how to operate the main isolation shut-off switch. Signages shall be provided with a letter height of at least 50mm.

g. Where main isolation shut-off switch(es) cannot be seen clearly or not within line of sight from the EV charging station and its parking lot(s), additional signages shall be provided to direct persons to the main isolation shut-off switch(es).