CapitaLand revs up sustainability drive with largest network of public electric vehicle charging stations in Singapore
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Singapore, 31 August 2015 – CapitaLand Limited is doubling the number of plug-in electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in its properties and nearly doubling the locations where these stations are offered – extending its network beyond Singapore’s Central Business District (CBD) for the first time through its on-going collaboration with premium car manufacturer BMW Asia. The charging stations are being installed by Greenlots, a global technology solutions provider for EV networks
Six public EV charging stations will be installed at four new locations outside the financial district by next year – The Star Vista and Westgate with two stations each; and Bedok Mall and The Atrium@Orchard with one station each. These are in addition to the six such stations already available at Capital Tower, CapitaGreen (two stations), One George Street, Raffles City Singapore and Six Battery Road in the CBD. This will also nearly double the number of CapitaLand properties in Singapore offering public EV charging stations – from five to nine.
Accounting for nine of the 31 public EV charging locations in Singapore, CapitaLand properties make up nearly a third of the entire island-wide network. These nine CapitaLand locations will offer 12 EV charging stations out of the 47 in the country. The EV charging stations available at CapitaLand shopping malls and office properties will be accessible to all owners of EVs by any manufacturer. EV owners simply have to register via the Greenlots mobile app in order to start using the public charging network.
Mr Tan Seng Chai, Group Chief Corporate Officer, CapitaLand Limited and Chairman, CapitaLand Sustainability Steering Committee, said: “As a responsible developer, CapitaLand is committed to operate our buildings in a sustainable manner. Since 2008, we have reduced the carbon emissions intensity of our global operational properties by 21%. Taking this to the next level, we hope to enable our stakeholders to further reduce their carbon footprint and join us in supporting sustainable mobility. We understand that the availability of charging stations is key to greater adoption of EVs, which help reduce carbon emissions. As property owners, we therefore recognise the instrumental role we can play in helping to make charging infrastructure more accessible.”
EV worldwide sales have grown exponentially since 2009. Attesting to the growing popularity and adoption of electric mobility, global sales are expected to reach one million next month – 10 times the 100,000 EVs sold as recently as 2012. This exponential growth is expected to continue, with up to 20 million EVs expected to be on the roads within the next five years.
Mr Tan added: “As the market leader, CapitaLand constantly innovates to cater to the needs of our customers and stay ahead. While EVs are relatively new to the market, demand is growing rapidly. The expansion of our EV charging network will bring great convenience to the growing group of EV-owner customers. Beyond destination charging stations at our integrated developments, shopping malls and office buildings, we are also looking at making home charging stations available at our upcoming residential developments in Singapore. We are set to offer over 100 EV charging stations in more than 40 properties across Asia and Europe, across integrated, shopping mall, serviced residence, office and residential developments. This will form an integrated CapitaLand network of charging stations, where our customers who are EV owners can plug-in and charge their cars easily and seamlessly when they live, work and play at our properties.”
To encourage real estate players to support sustainable mobility in Singapore, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) includes the provision of EV charging stations as part of its Green Mark scheme.
“BCA has been championing the development of green buildings for the last decade. With the third Green Building Masterplan, our stakeholder engagement has been widened to include building tenants and occupants. The revamped Green Mark 2015 stipulates resource stewardship as a key area of focus looking critically at the environmental impact of resources, including material, water and operational waste. The scheme also encourages eco-friendly practices through the provision of facilities such as sheltered bicycle lots and EV charging stations, to inspire behavioural changes in users. We commend industry partners like CapitaLand for proactively promoting this cause,” said Mr Ang Kian Seng, Group Director, Technology Development Group, BCA.
Building an EV network beyond Singapore
CapitaLand is also leveraging the scale of its China portfolio to establish what is believed to be the country’s largest EV charging network, which includes stations set up with BMW and premium EV manufacturer Tesla. The Group currently has 81 EV charging stations in 23 properties, across integrated development, shopping mall, serviced residence, office and residential sectors, and is set to extend its network in the country to another 10 shopping malls in the near future.
CapitaLand, through its wholly-owned subsidiary The Ascott Limited, has set up charging stations in Europe at a Citadines serviced residence in Brussels, Belgium, with plans to install stations at another Citadines property in the same city by this year. It is also looking at expanding the network to a Citadines property in London, United Kingdom, and all Citadines serviced residences in Germany by next year.