Top Things to do when you get your EV
Buying an EV, even more so in Singapore is no small feat. After contending with a myriad of considerations such as generally higher road taxes, overcoming mindset accessibility of charging stations, all the way to even explaining to nosy relatives during CNY why you took the plunge, you’re finally all set to turn on the ignition. Oh wait, even that is different. Fret not, we have compiled a check-list of sorts to help you on this exciting new journey so that hopefully your experience is so much smoother. For those who are still considering, this may even form a good base of questions to ask your car dealer as there are important implications.
1. Knowing your Car Specifications
Yes, this seems like a no brainer and you would have already done it before deciding to buy the car but it really is the first thing you need to know by heart. A few important questions to be prepared for are:
- What is the battery capacity?
- What type of connector does it use?
- How long does it take to charge using AC and DC respectively?
- What is the estimated distance you can cover on a full charge?
These are important questions you need to know because not all EV charging points may be suitable. It is also important to bear in mind that charging station speed does not necessarily equate to the same for all cars. If you plug a car which can charge at a maximum of 60kwh to a 100kwh fast charging station (thus paying the higher rates) you’re still only going to get 60kwh because that is the capacity of your car’s battery. Doing your research ahead of time could potentially help save quite a fair bit in the long run.
Let’s look at another example:
The new BYD SEAL comes in 3 makes – Dynamic, Premium and Performance. Dynamic has an Electrical range: WLTP combined of 460km, Premium at 570km and Performance at 520km give or take. Dynamic has a battery capacity of 61.44 kWh while the others have 82.56 kWh. However the Dynamic charges using DC: CCS2 110kW/AC: Type 2 7kW while the Premium and Performance charges using DC: CCS2 150kW/AC: Type 2 7kW.
Whilst these are all published theoretical range limits, it may not be consistent due to other factors like constant speed, acceleration, stops and terrain conditions. All models of the car is capped at a charging rate of 7kW for AC even if the charger has a higher AC output of the common 7.4kWh in Singapore. And the Dynamic has a cap of 110kW while the other two have a cap of 150kW for DC charging.
2. Understanding AC or DC
Alternating current (AC) and Direct current (DC) are two terms you will hear very often.
Electric vehicles have a built-in converter called the “onboard charger”. It converts power from AC to DC prior to feeding in to the battery. This is the most common charging method for electric vehicles today and most chargers use AC power.
Generally, power that comes from the grid is dispensed in AC. However, batteries found on EVs can only store power as DC. The power from the AC charger therefore goes from the onboard charger to the traction battery. This conversion of energy from AC to DC takes time and limitations to the power output depending on the type of onboard charger in the EV results in generally longer charge times than DC.
When charging with a DC charger otherwise known as Fast or Rapid Chargers, no onboard charger and conversion are required. This allows DC to be sent to the battery which increase the charging speed of the battery. This is why when using DC, most EVs can be fully charged in an hour or so.
3. Check EV Charging Network availability
There are currently 9 EV Charging station providers in Singapore, and this is likely to grow over the years as adoption increases. This can be seen in the table below which shows an approximate number of charging stations they have published as well.
Currently there aren’t any public promotions or deals that charging station providers have with any car brands but that isn’t stopping them from forming private partnerships with dealers in order to drive up freebies. For example, we have seen increasing examples of cars being sold with “up to 20% charging discounts for 3 years” or similar packaged offers. Most of which are bundled discounts whereby the dealer pays upfront for your discount, which in some way is already baked into the price of your car purchase. In the early years, we have also seen offers for free charging on select partner charging operators, but that is no longer prevalent. For now, it would be best to download the mobile apps of these brands to find which are the closest ones to your home, workplace or frequented locations. You can also compare the prices, the types of charging stations they provide as well as the connectors to see if it applicable to your EV.
We are also trying our best to update the interactive map at www.chargewhere.sg so that you can look up charging stations that are near your current or intended locations. This is evolving into a consistently updating list with real-time socially contributed data from drivers like yourself!
4. Plan, plan and plan
Save your favorite charging stations that you know you will frequently use such as the ones near your residence or work place. Once you know which charging stations you want to go to, make sure you search for backups just in case they are in use or out service. Some apps do indicate if the charging sites are in used or malfunctioning but it is not accurate 100% of the time.
With this you can plan how far your drives are going to be and a rough estimate of how much battery will be used. If your intended charging stations are occupied all the time, having ready backups could make a whole world of difference and reduce your anxiety on the road. Don’t wait until the very last minute to find a charge.
5. Car Insurance
It may come as a surprise to some but acquiring insurance for an EV is generally more expensive than a normal ICE car.
The most obvious factor for the cost of insurance is the type of EV car model you are getting. Insurance for a Porsche Taycan 4S is obviously going to be more expensive than a Hyundai Ioniq Electric. Other factors involved are your driving profile, experience and prevailing no-claim discount (NCD).
There are some differences with between the insurance of an EV and a conventional car. An EV insurance does not cover battery failure or defects by default. This is why it is important to check with your car dealer on the conditions for battery warranty, even down to the level of mileage vs age. Regular checks on the battery health are also key indicators to ensuring everything runs in tip-top condition.
Some insurance plans might also not cover extended windshields that extends to the roofline while charging accidents are also generally not covered. Do ask your insurer ahead of time for a detailed policy wording and be appraised of the various items covered (and more importantly those that are not).
Here are some EV insurance plans which you can check out:
6. Roadside Assistance
Currently there is a very small range of road assistance available for EVs and most of them are partnered with the various car brands. One such service provider is Wearnes which is partnered with a few car brands. Another such is Power Up Tech (P.Up) and Beecharge Innovation Group. Power Up Tech has up to 10 mobile charging vans while Beecharge has up to 8. Each of these vans have 160kWh. Other service providers are usually associated with the insurance plans when purchasing them.
7. EV Workshops
Not all workshops in Singapore are equipped to service hybrid or EV cars. Other than the car brand workshops, here are some workshops which can service your EVs.
- KGC Workshop Pte Ltd
- Alliance Auto Pte Ltd
- Hanip Automobiles Pte Ltd
- Auto 101 LLP
- Motoserv Pte Ltd
- Providence Automobile Pte Ltd
We hope our guide to the top things to do before getting your own EV will help you with your very first EV. Let us know if you have any other tips and tricks that other first time EV buyers should know in the comments below!