First EV fast chargers at open-air HDB carparks in operation

SINGAPORE – The first fast chargers for electric vehicles (EVs) at Housing Board open-air carparks have started operations to cater to the growing number of such vehicles here.

Run by different operators, these charges are located in Bedok Reservoir, Hougang, Ang Mo Kio and Boon Lay – with the quickest ones able to add as much as 100km of range in 10 minutes

Within the next six months, at least another 14 open-air carparks are expected to get these fast chargers.

Currently, most EV chargers at HDB carparks are slow and suitable for overnight charging.

EV fast chargers can be found in commercial buildings and multi-storey carparks, but they are not common in public open-air carparks as such sites do not usually have sufficient power.

The operators also say that existing pipes, utilities and telecommunication lines underground add further complexity to laying cables to draw power from electric substations to the open-air carparks.

Charge+ officially launched its first fast-charging station at an HDB open-air carpark on April 16 at Boon Lay Place Market. The station has been operational since February.

By mid-2025, it plans to launch another six at such carparks in Beach Road, Bukit Merah, Bukit Panjang, Ghim Moh, Jurong East and Kallang Bahru.

On April 1, Shell Recharge and SP Mobility launched fast chargers at open-air carparks at Block 631 Bedok Reservoir Road, Block 6 Hougang Avenue 3, and Block 225 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1.

Another operator, ChargEco, said it will be progressively activating fast chargers at eight open-air carparks between July and October. The locations include popular hawker centres, such as ABC Brickworks Market and Food Centre, Eunos Crescent Market and Food Centre, and Bendemeer Market and Food Centre.

CDG Engie, the EV charging operator that is owned by transport giant ComfortDelGro, will have fast chargers in four HDB surface carpark locations by the first half of the year and another four by the second half.

The majority of EV chargers installed at HDB carparks are rated at 7.4 kilowatts (kW) and take more than two hours to dispense the same amount of electricity as a 120kW fast charger can in 10 minutes.

Speaking to The Straits Times ahead of the official launch of its 120kW charging station at Boon Lay Place, Mr Goh Chee Kiong, chief executive of Charge+, said the open-air carparks chosen so far are near eateries and amenities.

Mr Goh said that the company wants to improve convenience and accessibility for EV drivers, especially those who may need to charge up more than once a day because of the high mileage they cover. He added that a quieter fast charger model was selected for locations near residential blocks. Noise emitted from fast chargers is inherent in the technology.

ChargEco, a joint venture by SMRT subsidiary Strides Mobility and YTL PowerSeraya, also said that its fast chargers will be conveniently located for EV drivers.

“By placing chargers near well-frequented eateries, we aim to help drivers make the most of their charging time, whether by enjoying a meal or picking up takeaway,” said its general manager Richard Chin.

This echoes the Government’s strategy of locating fast chargers in places frequented by fleet drivers during breaks.

Credit: Charge+" />

It costs more to use fast chargers, with rates ranging from 70 cents to 76.3 cents for each kilowatt-hour. Slow chargers are priced at between 60 cents and 73 cents.

Fully charging an EV like a BYD Atto 3, which has a 60.5kWh battery, can cost as much as $46.16 on a fast charger at the highest rate, compared with $36.30 at the cheapest slow charger rate.

The rates do not include parking fees.

Citing commercial sensitivity, Mr Goh from Charge+ did not give details on how well utilised its current network of 1,300 charging points at HDB carparks is but said that across the board, the chargers are being used more today than they were two years ago.

This coincides with the rising adoption of EVs in Singapore. Between 2023 and 2024, EV registrations rose to make up 33.6 per cent of all new car registrations, from 18.1 per cent.

Mr Ong Tze Boon, chairman of Charge+, said that the company has a strong commitment to serving HDB estates and will continue to invest ahead of demand in HDB carparks to spur EV adoption.

Singapore wants every HDB carpark to be equipped with EV chargers by the end of 2025.

According to EV-electric, the LTA subsidiary responsible for the deployment of EV charges, there are now 5,771 charging points in public carparks.

Clarification note: An earlier version of this story stated that Charge+ launched its first fast-charging station at an HDB open-air carpark at Boon Lay Place Market on April 16. Charge+ has clarified that the charging points were officially launched on April 16, but have been in operation since February 2025.

• Lee Nian Tjoe is senior transport correspondent at The Straits Times, where he also oversees the Motoring section.