New BYD owners will soon be spoilt for choice of charging options.

That’s because BYD has recently formed a partnership with five different EV charging operators, enabling new BYD owners in Singapore to enjoy discounted charging rates as they embark on their electric vehicle (EV) journey.

The announcement came on March 15, 2024, bringing together representatives from Singapore’s five largest CPOs – CDG Engie, Charge+, Shell, SP Group, and Volt. The signing ceremony took place at BYD by 1826 (Boat Quay).

This development builds on BYD’s earlier announcement of discounted charging with Charge+, now expanding the options significantly for customers.

For those still confused, here’s a simple breakdown of the partnership mechanics:

• Customers can choose one CPO from four options – CDG Engie, Charge+, Shell Recharge, and SP Group – and enjoy a 20% discount on charging rates. This discount is exclusive to new BYD passenger car owners with vehicles registered in 2024.

• The discount rate for the remaining partner, Volt, is only 5%, but this privilege extends to all existing and new BYD passenger car owners.

While Charge+’s discount program has been in effect since January, the programs for the other CPOs will start in April. BYD is also in talks to partner with a sixth CPO.

This move underscores BYD’s commitment to enhancing its customer ecosystem in Singapore, where it has seen remarkable success. The brand surpassed Tesla in 2023 for the most passenger EVs registered and has maintained its lead in 2024, becoming the top-selling automotive brand in February 2024.

Looking ahead, BYD plans to appoint a new dealer, Harmony Auto, open more showrooms, and introduce new models. Among the teasers is a new electric MPV.

Mr James Ng, Managing Director of BYD Singapore and Philippines, emphasised the brand’s commitment to providing customers with an exceptional ownership experience.

He said, “We aspire for this initiative to enable electric vehicle owners to fully appreciate the advantages of lower running costs while transitioning seamlessly into the ‘EV’ lifestyle.”

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On June 28, 2023, the Busways-Shell Consortium decided to set up a proof-of-concept (POC) showcase; one that debuts the highest-powered EV charging system (EVCS) that Singapore has ever seen. We’re talking a maximum of 360kW of power, and that is a game-changer.

You see, the struggle is real for fleet owners of heavy-duty EVs. Limited charging locations, power compatibility issues, and the constant headache of building infrastructure all contribute to making their lives hard.

But Shell is on a mission, and they’re joining forces with like-minded industry players to make this happen. Ms Jeane Toh, Head of Business Mobility, Singapore at Shell, put it quite eloquently, “We recognise the need for more rapid, safer charging solutions for the commercial industry’s heavy-duty EVs, such as e-buses, e-vans and e-trucks.”

Thus, Shell has partnered with Busways, a company with over 17 years of electrical power engineering under its belt.

But what’s this POC all about? Shell has recently set up shop at Woodlands Spectrum1, and they’re inviting EVCS OEMs (that’s Original Equipment Manufacturers) to come and test the infrastructure out.

The goal? To figure out the best way to install, operate, and maintain these heavy-duty chargers in our sunny island’s climate. These chargers have a cable management system that enable the cables to retract, reducing wear and tear and tripping hazards. 

And there’s more. They’ve got this Charging Station Management System (CSMS) that manages energy and fleets, making sure everything runs smoothly even when the grid is feeling a bit cranky.

Ms Jeane Toh also added that setting up a Shell Recharge Electric Vehicle Charging System (EVCS) is relatively easy, thanks to a team of consultants at Shell Business Mobility that provide solutions and support customers in meeting their EV charging needs. 

This end-to-end turnkey approach includes site evaluation, industry-leading hardware, reliable installation as well as ongoing charger hardware and software maintenance and operational support. Shell also has global charging solutions ready for deployment locally should infrastructure change down the line.

To make the transition to electric power easier for prospective businesses, Shell Business Mobility has an Accelerate to Zero programme which offers a range of solutions that are designed to help SMEs map the best course of action to meet their fleet’s specific decarbonisation needs, balancing sustainability with productivity while achieving net-zero emissions.

Through the charting of this roadmap, Shell can help fleet customers develop a decarbonisation plan, measure their progress and identify opportunities to reduce their carbon footprint through telematics data. Best of all, any company with EVs in their fleet can approach Shell Fleet Solutions to discuss their decarbonisation plan, regardless of fleet size.

As to whether this 360kW infrastructure may be trickled down to general consumers in the future, Shell would first need to address power grid limitations and work towards developing solutions that can overcome the costliness of power upgrades to support HPC installation.

An example of a successful venture was Shell’s partnership with the Energy Market Authority and SME Eigen Energy, with support from Enterprise Singapore, which enabled Shell to launch Singapore’s first smart and clean energy-powered service stations, featuring high-powered 180kW EV chargers. 

If you’ve got a heavy-duty EV and wish to give this a shot, you can sign up for a 12-month trial via the highlighted text here. The EV game’s changing, and it’s charging fast, with Shell Recharge.

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