Debated in Parliament on 10 Sep 2024.
Miss Rachel Ong asked the Minister for Transport (a) whether there are thermal runaway related regulations for electric vehicles (EVs); (b) if so, what are these regulations; (c) whether such regulations include an EV battery safety certification and a requirement to provide information on the battery manufacturer to consumers; and (d) if there are currently no such regulations, when will these regulations be set in place.
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Transport (a) whether the Government will mandate maximum charging limits for electric vehicles (EVs) in residential car parks for fire safety; and (b) how does the Government plan to reconcile EV adoption targets with the potential increased fire risks in high-density urban areas.
International studies thus far have shown that the rate of fire incidents for electric vehicle (EVs) is much lower than those for internal combustion engine vehicles and hybrid vehicles. Nonetheless, as safety is of paramount importance, a multi-agency EV Safety Taskforce co-chaired by the Land Transport Authority and Singapore Civil Defence Force was established in 2023 to manage EV fire risks. We have also put in place a suite of existing regulations to mitigate the risk of EV fires.
All vehicles, including EVs, are required to meet internationally recognised vehicle safety standards such as those issued by the United Nations1 before they are approved for use on our roads, and have to be regularly inspected. The standards prescribe safety requirements for the electric power train and EV traction battery, including protective features against overcharging, short-circuits, thermal runaway and mechanical impacts.
Further, all EV charging systems (EVCS) must comply with our national charging standard, the Technical Reference 25 (TR25), as stipulated by the Electric Vehicle Charging Act. TR25 takes reference from international safety standards and mandates installation, certification and maintenance requirements for EVCS.
Beyond regulations at the vehicle- and charger-level, building regulations also reduce the impact of fire before the arrival of first responders. For instance, car parks are designed to the Fire Code. These includes the use of fire-rated walls and doors to contain fire spread, and ventilation systems to disperse smoke, heat and gases emitted during a fire. For enclosed basement car parks, sprinklers are also required. These fire safety systems have to undergo regular maintenance and inspection.
As EV technology continues to evolve, we will continue to monitor developments locally and abroad to formulate our policies and safety protocols.
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