The electric vehicle (EV) landscape in Singapore has come a long way over the past few years. Since the government announced its ambitious EV adoption targets in Budget 2021, we’ve seen significant progress toward making EVs more mainstream. With Singapore aiming for 60,000 charging points by 2030 and an increasing number of EV models entering the market, the shift towards sustainable transportation is more noticeable than ever.
Government incentives such as the EV Early Adoption Incentive (EAI) and the Vehicular Emissions Scheme (VES) have also played a key role in accelerating EV adoption. As a result, fully-electric vehicles are becoming a common sight on Singapore’s roads, not just among private car owners but also within the commercial sector.
While EV adoption is often associated with passenger cars like the Tesla Model 3 and BYD Atto 3, businesses in Singapore are also making the switch. Many SMEs rely on commercial vehicles for daily operations, and with advancements in EV technology and infrastructure, more companies are choosing to go green. For businesses that own industrial or commercial properties, having dedicated EV charging stations on-site further simplifies the transition.
If you’re a business owner considering an EV for your operations, here’s what you need to know. As a reminder, all commercial vehicles in Singapore must be registered with a valid Category C or Category E COE. As of February 2025, Cat C COE is at $62,506 while Cat E COE is at $110,000.
#1 Renault Kangoo E-Tech Electric, Price: $53,800 (W/O COE)
The Renault Kangoo is a brand that should already be familiar with many Singaporeans, particularly if you already own an existing business that has a commercial vehicle. The Renault Kangoo is one of the most popular commercial multi-purpose vehicles in Singapore and regularly used by businesses that need to transport their people and equipment.
The good news is that Renault offers a fully-electric Kangoo commercial vehicle for businesses in Singapore. With a 45.6kWh battery, the Kangoo E-Tech Electric gives you a range of about 300km. It has a boot capacity of 4300l.
According to Renault, assuming a mileage of 30,000km a year, business owners can save about $5,286 a year compared to using a similar combustion engine commercial vehicle.
#2 BYD T3 Electric, Price: $43,800 (W/O COE)
The BYD T3 Electric is an electric van equipped with a 44.9 kWh. This gives it a range of about 280 km. For charging, it will take about 1 hour for the quicker 50kW direct charge (DC) and about 6.8 hours (about 6 hours 48 minutes) for the slower 6.6kW alternating current (AC) charge.
With a boot space of 3,800l and a 0.7 ton payload, this could be a useful electric vehicle for companies that need to ferry goods and equipment around Singapore regularly.
#3 Opel Vivaro-E Van, $59,500 (W/O COE)
The Opel Vivaro-e is an electric van that is equipped with a 75 kWh battery that can give us a range of up to 330km. With an energy consumption of about 4.3km/kWh, the Vivaro-e has a power of 100kW (134 bhp) and a cargo capacity of 6100L. It has a maximum payload of 1,000kg.
In addition, there is also a seating capacity of 3 people at the front, giving companies a little more flexibility if they need to bring up to 3 workers (including driver) to their destination.
For direct charge (DC), the Vivaro-e will take about 1.5 hours at a 50kW charger while alternating current (AC) charging will take about 6.8 hours.
#4 DFSK EC31 Electric, $37,800 (W/O COE)
Short for DongFeng EC31, the DFSK EC31 is a small truck that can be used for transporting goods. According to specifications on SgCarMart, the DFSK EC31 is equipped with a 38.7kWh battery with an energy consumption of 5.1km/kWh. This gives it a range of up to 215km. With a maximum 40kW DC charging rate, the vehicle can be charged in 0.5 hours (30 minutes) and with an AC charger of 6.6kW, it can be charged in 3.5 hours.
#5 BYD T9R, Price: Not Available
If you think that commercial electric vehicles are only limited to smaller vans, the BYD T9R is a prime example that we can expect even large and heavy commercial vehicles of the future to be fully powered by electric as well.
Armed with its 217kWh battery, the BYD T9R gives you a range of about 200 km, according to information provided in its product brochure. With a weight of 9,726 kg, this three-axle truck can be purposed by businesses for the transport of heavy goods such as to be a grocery truck, cement truck or a trailer truck.
Expect Commercial Vehicles In The Future To Go Green
With Singapore’s announcement that no new diesel cars and taxis will be allowed to be registered from 2025, the shift toward cleaner energy vehicles is accelerating. This means that only commercial goods vehicles and buses will continue using diesel
For SMEs that rely on commercial vehicles for daily operations, this transition presents both an opportunity and a financial consideration. As electric commercial vehicles become more viable, businesses can future-proof their fleets, reduce fuel costs, and contribute to Singapore’s green transition. With government incentives and expanding EV infrastructure, now is an opportune time for SMEs to explore the benefits of going electric.
Read Also: Cost Guide To Buying A Commercial Vehicle In Singapore
This article was first published on 8 March 2021 and updated with the latest information.
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