EVs, hybrids, and PHEV car populations hit new highs, while the petrol car population shrinks in Singapore in 2022’s first six months

The population of electrified passenger cars have seen significant growth here in the first half of 2022, while in contrast, the population of petrol-powered cars dropped almost one point. 

Electrified cars, which encompass fully-electric vehicles (EVs), petrol-electric hybrids, and petrol-electric plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) – saw significant increases over 2021, and all reached new highs in terms of population. 

EVs increased by 50.3 percent, while PHEVs saw a similar bump of 44.5 percent. Hybrids continued their steady increase with 10.7 percent added to their population. In contrast, the number of petrol-only cars actually decreased by 0.85 percent. 

EV population sees a 50 percent increase

From 2,942 units at the end of 2021, the fully-electric passenger car population increased to 4,421, a jump of 1,479. It’s not really a surprise, since between 2020 and 2021 there was a staggering 242 percent increase in the EV passenger car population – we can safely say that Singapore’s acceleration towards EVs is well and truly underway. If you look at it another way, 10 years ago there were just three EVs on the road here – so the EV population has increased by something like 1,474 times in a decade. 

We had a ride in Rolls-Royce’s first EV and it was insanely quiet – despite being 40 percent finished!

Singapore’s Green Plan 2030 incorporating EVs is no doubt a key reason. From a practical, buyer point of view it’s the VES and EEAI rebates that have helped keep EVs in interest, despite the backdrop of rising COE prices. Even better, more mainstream EVs also saw a boost with some of them being eligible for a less expensive Category A COE as of March this year.

EV growth has also been bolstered by the beginning of the ‘official’ national charge network, with an increasing number of charge points visible at HDB estates, in addition to the continued growth of privately-owned charging networks, such as those run by SP Group and Charge+.

Hybrids, which encompass both ‘full’ (eg Toyota Prius) and mild hybrids (eg Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Mazda 3), are still the most dominant form of electrified vehicle here. Again, no surprise since hybrid tech is proven and mostly reliable, does not  need a charging point, and has been on the market for decades. In the near future, with stringent emissions regulations, we expect almost all cars to become mild hybrids ahead of the transition to full electric drive. 

Another surprise here is the fact that PHEVs – hybrids with short, full-electric range i.e. the halfway house between hybrids and EVs – have also grown considerably, by around 44 percent. It’s surprising because PHEVs can sometimes be more expensive than EVs because they are not eligible for the EEAI (Early EV Adoption rebate). But that expensive status is also reflected by the fact that they now make up the smallest population of electrified cars here, at just 1,000 cars. 

The best-selling car brands here in 2022 so far

Is this the decline of combustion engines?

Petrol cars dipped by a point compared to the end of 2021, and now petrol cars have reached their lowest population level since 2008 (545,994). Why? VES rebates give hybrids the edge, or at the very least taking the edge off slightly higher price tags, and very high petrol prices have also encouraged consumers to look for more frugal rides. 

Before 2008 the petrol car population was even lower, but so was the overall vehicle population and growth in the population was still allowed. It’s reflective of changing attitudes that petrol cars have dropped in overall population, while electrified cars have grown strongly, against the zero passenger car growth dictated by the LTA. We could be seeing the start of a clear, steady decline in petrol-only cars as Singapore gets closer to the 2030 Green Plan targets.