Lessons Learnt from Compressed Natural Gas Scheme for Vehicles and Plans to Use Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology
Ministry of TransportSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns MP Shawn Huang Wei Zhong’s inquiry regarding lessons from the compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle scheme and potential plans for hydrogen fuel cell technology. Minister S Iswaran explained that the CNG experience showed that technology, infrastructure, and regulations must develop concurrently to facilitate adoption. While the government currently prioritizes electric vehicles and achieving a 100% cleaner energy bus fleet by 2040, Minister S Iswaran noted that hydrogen technology could decarbonize high-mileage vehicle segments once its ecosystem and costs mature. The Land Transport Authority continues to monitor these alternatives while implementing legislation for safe and accessible charging nationwide to support the transition.
Transcript
12 Mr Shawn Huang Wei Zhong asked the Minister for Transport (a) what are the lessons learnt from the compressed natural gas scheme for vehicles in Singapore; (b) whether the Ministry has any future plans for vehicles to use hydrogen fuel cell technology; and (c) whether the Ministry will consider using hydrogen fuel cell vehicles for public transport.
Mr S Iswaran: Compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles were introduced in Singapore in 2002. The number of CNG vehicles peaked around 2010, with around 2,700 cars and 2,800 taxis. The experience with CNG vehicles highlighted the importance for technology, markets, infrastructure and regulations to develop in tandem, to provide assurance to consumers and businesses and facilitate adoption.
In our move towards electric vehicles (EVs), we are making important moves in all these areas. With the global automotive industry making a clear shift towards EVs, we are significantly ramping up charging infrastructure nationwide. We will be putting in place legislation to regulate and ensure safe, reliable and accessible EV charging. Public transport vehicles are a key part of the transition. LTA will electrify half of our public bus fleet by 2030 and achieve a 100% cleaner energy public bus fleet by 2040.
While encouraging adoption of electric vehicles, LTA continues to monitor developments in other cleaner energy alternatives that can support our plans for a more sustainable land transport sector. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles may have a role in decarbonising vehicle segments that require higher power and mileage. However, hydrogen fuel cell technology and its broader ecosystem will need to mature in areas, such as vehicle efficiency, cost, availability of vehicle models and supporting infrastructure.