Environmental concerns are increasingly taking a front seat in public discourse. Singapore has created the lofty goal of phasing out internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles by 2023 and reducing peak land transport emissions by 80% by 2050.
To encourage car owners to go green, banks are also offering loans at lower interest rates for EVs than for regular and even used cars. If you’re planning to get an Electric Vehicle (EV), this article will guide you through picking the right EV.
Costs Involved in Getting an EV
Before picking out your desired model, here are some things you should know about the costs involved in buying an EV.
Insurance
Once you have selected the right vehicle, you might be concerned with finding the best car insurance. On the DBS Car Marketplace, you can get a quote for their DBS DriveShield insurance which allows you to tailor your policy to best suit your needs, with optional benefits you can choose to add on if you wish.
Road Tax
Do note that the road tax imposed on electric vehicles differs from Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles. Road tax for an EV is calculated based on the EV’s power rating.
Furthermore, ICE vehicles incur fuel excise duties through fuel consumption. As EVs do not consume fuel, they are not subject to said duties. Hence, to achieve balance, an additional fixed tax of S$700 a year will be imposed for EVs until the government can convert all vehicles to a distance-based tax. This additional tax will be progressively phased in and will only take full effect in 2023.
The tables below demonstrate how road tax is calculated:
| Power Rating (kW) | New 6-Month Road Tax Formula |
|---|---|
| PR ≤ 7.5 | S$200 x 0.782 |
| 7.5 < PR ≤ 30 | [S$200 + S$2.00(PR – 7.5)] x 0.78 8. |
| 30 < PR ≤ 90 | [S$250 + S$3.75(PR – 30)] x 0.78 |
| 90 < PR ≤ 230 | [S$475 + S$7.50(PR – 90)] x 0.78 |
| PR > 230 | [S$1,525 + S$10(PR – 230)] x 0.782 |
| Licensing Period | Annual Additional Flat Component |
|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2021 – 31 Dec 2021 | S$200 |
| 1 Jan 2022 – 31 Dec 202 | S$400 |
| 1 Jan 2023 onwards | S$700 |
| Source: Land Transport Authority | |
So with these costs in mind, how much loan would you need to buy an EV?
How to Calculate Your Car Loan
There are a few factors that determine how large of a loan you are eligible to take out. These factors include your monthly income, current financial commitments such as other outstanding loans, repayment ability and credit scores. DBS’s car loan calculator can help you determine how much you can loan.
The car loan amount is dependent on the net purchase price or net valuation amount of the EV, whichever is lower. The net purchase price is derived as the advertised price of the car minus any benefits or rewards received. The maximum approved loan amount is capped at 60% of the net purchase price. This means you will only be required to make a down payment of 40% to purchase an EV.
DBS Car Budget Calculator
An extremely helpful tool available on the DBS Car Marketplace is the inbuilt car budget calculator. You can put in your monthly income, monthly financial commitments and desired loan period, and the budget calculator will give you an estimate of your total budget to buy a car and your car loan amount. The calculator then selects and showcases the cars that fit within your estimated budget.
EVs do not come cheap, with vehicle prices ranging from S$100,000 to S$400,000. As such, many EV buyers choose to take out a car loan to help finance their purchases.
DBS Car Loan
DBS offers a comprehensive car loan for both new and used EV purchases. You can apply for a car loan through DBS Car Marketplace or through their car loans promotion page.
To qualify for the promotion, you need to make a minimum loan of S$10,000 with a minimum loan tenure of one year. You can apply for a loan on their website using digibank or Singpass.
For second-hand EVs, the loan tenor will depend on the registration date of the car and hence the remaining years on its COE. For example, if the vehicle was originally registered in 2016, the EV would be six years old. Hence, you could take out a loan for up to four years to finance the purchase.
Once you’ve calculated the loan amount you will need to take out, it’s time for the fun part: choosing your EV.
Choosing your Electric Vehicle (EV)
There are a few considerations when it comes to selecting the right EV.
Firstly, the most obvious consideration is the price. As electric vehicles have not yet reached the scale that ICE vehicles have, they tend to be slightly pricier than their ICE counterparts. Check out our previous article on the average cost of EVs in Singapore for more in-depth information.
Secondly is the range that the EV can cover. The range of an EV represents the distance that you can travel with a single recharge. If you are planning on driving within Singapore, the range might be less of a concern as charging ports are increasingly readily available islandwide. If you are planning on driving your car into Malaysia, the range of your vehicle would be more important as you would have to consider when and where you can recharge your car on your trip.
Ready to get started on your EV journey? Then we’ve got a nifty tool that will help you make the best choice for you.
DBS Car Marketplace — A Helpful Tool For Your EV-Buying Journey
Finding the right EV can feel like an overwhelming task. DBS Car Marketplace is here to make that process as effortless as possible. With various industry partners, DBS Car Marketplace is a one-stop shop that allows you to select the right EV for you.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to navigating the Marketplace.
1. Check Out What’s On the Market
DBS Car Marketplace partners with direct sellers and dealers to provide various EV options. You can filter by individual partners or view all EVs across all partners when browsing the market.
2. Pick Your Ideal Model
Using the toggles on the sidebar, you can filter your search by car type, car price, registration year, depreciation, mileage and owner number.
You can also filter to show only EV options to better streamline your search. For example, the MG ZS Electric Deluxe, with eight years and four months left on the COE offered by SgCarMart is available for S$137,000.
3. Customise Your Vehicle
On top of all that, you can also access exclusive deals to customise your vehicle. DBS and POSB Credit and Debit card holders enjoy the promotions with partners such as TOMO-CSE Autorim, a leading passenger vehicle interior modification service provider. You can also customise your EV to match your needs, from Euro-style leather upholstery to installing an in-vehicle digital video recorder.
Buying your Electric Vehicle (EV)
1. Do Your Homework
When buying a new car, you should always try to negotiate a better deal. This might be a little harder with EVs due to their limited models and supply on the current market compared to ICE vehicles. However, there are still ways to ensure you get a good deal for your new car.
For more negotiating power, you first need to have a clear understanding of what models, specifications and deals are on the market before going to the seller. Gathering as much information as possible will allow you to make a more informed decision. Having a good grasp of the current market prices for the cars you are exploring will ensure that you will not be misled during the negotiation process.
That being said, be flexible in what you are looking for. If you are willing to accept slightly different specifications on the car, dealers might be able to give you a better discount on the inventory they need to move.
2. Test Drive the Car
If you are a first-time EV buyer, it is especially important to test drive the car to ensure you enjoy the driving experience. As the EV does not have an engine or exhaust, it is whisper-quiet, which might be slightly off-putting to drivers who enjoy the sound of a revving engine. Furthermore, EVs typically have single-speed gearboxes. This means that you will not feel the sensation of a gear change while driving the car.
EVs also deliver 100% of their available power immediately. This means that they can accelerate very quickly, which could cause the car to feel “twitchy” when driving during your initial adjustment period. These factors, amongst others, mean that it is especially important to test drive any EV you are interested in buying to ensure that the driving experience is to your liking.
3. Take Advantage of Existing Rebates
Enhanced Vehicular Emissions Scheme (VES)
Under the enhanced VES scheme, buyers can either get a rebate or have to pay a surcharge for the car they are buying based on the pollutants said car emits. The four pollutants assessed are hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. Depending on the level of pollutants the car emits, it will be graded within a band.
The rebates for the Additional Registration Fee (ARF) on vehicles that fall within the two highest bands A1 and A2, have been increased by S$5,000 for personal cars as of 1 January 2021. Cars classified as band A1 are considered the ‘cleanest vehicles’ — i.e. the more efficient fully-electric cars. Vehicles classified as A2 are EVs with higher power consumption and hybrid cars. The rebates for band A1 and A2 cars now stand at S$25,000 and S$15,000. Conversely, vehicles that fall within the two most polluting bands, C1 and C2, would incur a surcharge of S$15,000 and S$25,000.
EV Early Adoption Incentive (EEAI)
Buyers who register a fully electric vehicle will receive a rebate of 45% on their ARF, with the maximum rebate capped at S$20,000. This incentive is valid until 31 December 2023 and can be used with the aforementioned enhanced VES.
With most vehicles, there is a minimum payable ARF of S$5,000. However, for fully electric vehicles, the ARF floor has been reduced to S$0. This has greatly alleviated the upfront cost of buying an EV for buyers waiting to pull the trigger.
Conclusion
Singapore’s shift to greener roads means that EVs are here to stay. With the current incentives and promotions available, you probably don’t want to miss your chance to jump on the EV bandwagon and play a part in minimising Singapore’s carbon footprint for a more sustainable tomorrow.
Find out more on DBS Car Marketplace — the one-stop portal for your automotive needs.
Read Also:
- Average Cost of Electric Vehicles in Singapore
- Guide to Buying A Sports Car While COE Premiums Hit 100k Mark In 2022
- Does Having an Electric Vehicle Affect Your Car Insurance?
- How to Lower Your Car Insurance Premiums When Working From Home in Singapore
- COE Is Reaching Another New High, Do You Know How To Lower Your Car Loan?
The article originally appeared on ValueChampion.
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Average Cost of Electric Vehicles in Singapore
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