Jetgala - FALL-WINTER 2022

70 R C oncerns over greenhouse gas emissions and the price of oil has made the internal combustion engine an environmental and sustainability villain. And just like in an oldWestern movie these fiery ‘horses’ are being run out of town – fast. After a century as the world’s favourite power source, combustion (petrol, diesel and natural gas) engines are being replaced with the electric motor. In fact, luxury carmaker Jaguar Land Rover has announced that all its Land Rover models will be fully electric by 2025 – with several other manufacturers also setting timetables to complete electrification of their fleets. ElectricVehicles (EVs) are fast, reliable, really fun to drive, silent, require little maintenance, have fewer parts, and produce no heat or exhaust emissions. But even if you’re sure you want one, there are lots and lots to choose from.That’s why it’s important to understand what kind of vehicle you’re looking for. Are you looking for basic transportation or a luxury vehicle? Are you concerned about the car’s range on a charge? Cars are also an expression of a one’s personality and, in Singapore, they are also a way of demonstrably showing affluence, otherwise the Republic wouldn’t have nearly 600 Roll-Royce automobiles plying the roads. Today, just about every car manufacture offers an EV, and yes, even Roll-Royce will also be offering a fully electric car starting in 2023. Charge BeforeYou Go While Singapore’s charging infrastructure may be growing fast, anyone looking to make the switch to electric vehicles should have a plan on how you will charge your vehicle. The first step is to determine where you do your charging. If you have landed property that’s probably the best solution as you can have a rapid charger fitted to your home’s electrical supply. Such chargers provide for a much faster and more convenient charge, allowing you to charge the vehicle whenever and however long you like. If you live in an apartment your options are not so good as you will have to charge your vehicle by sharing public charging stations, many of which are still in the pipeline. Still, with new electric cars that are able to drive 400 km or more on a full charge, some drivers choose to recharge as needed at work or at public charging stations. Depending on the car and type of charging station, charging can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 12 hours.