What does it take for Singapore’s roads to go green?

As part of the Singapore 2030 Green Plan, the government hopes to have 100% cleaner energy vehicles by 2040. To assess how Singaporeans feel, Income Insurance conducted a survey, titled Singapore Electric Dream, to assess Singaporeans’s attitudes and concerns about trading their tried, true, and pollutive gas vehicles for new electronic ones. 

Conducted online by YouGov in March 2025, the survey polled 1009 car owners — nearly 20% of whom already own EVs. Most drivers were not only aware of the Government push to phase out vehicles with internal combustion engines, but seven in ten felt positively about the move. Younger drivers, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, were the most optimistic, with strong support for the government’s vision and a majority were open to buying EVs themselves. 

While sustainability was a key motivator for prospective and current car owners, financial considerations remain front of mind. Among non-EV car owners, around half cited government rebates, subsidies, and reduced road tax as stronger incentives for making the switch.

And local concerns

While supporting the government’s push for green vehicles, many of those surveyed also had varied hesitancies that affected adoption.

Younger generations were wary about the kinks that may come with new technology. Concerns ranged from safety —  35% worrying about risks of fires at charging stations — to infrastructural issues — a third of respondents were concerned about long lines at and challenges in locating a charging station. One in three millennials and Gen Z also cited range anxiety, a fear of being stranded on the road due to insufficient charge as an issue.

Concerns about range anxiety in driving an EV as opposed to a gas vehicle are likely linked to infrastructural issues, the lesser availability of EV charging stations, and a lesser familiarity (as compared to gas cars) with how much mileage can be attained from a full tank.

On the other hand, older owners had more cost related costs, including concerns around high battery replacement costs (36%) and limited resale market value for EVs (31%). Safety concerns were also expressed, as more than a third of Gen X and Baby Boomers were worried about the risks of fires from EV battery issues or re-ignition, doubts that may have been partially stoked by Tesla and the company’s quiet recall of its Cybertruck batteries. 

Environmentally friendlier

Given all the discussions around EVs and the environment, there’s also the quiet reality that few Singaporeans are ready to give up cars entirely. Only 3% of those surveyed said they would stop driving altogether, despite Singapore’s rapidly growing public transit system.

The reasons behind this are not hard to understand. After all, car ownership is still tied to the convenience and reliability of point-to-point travel. Some may also aspire to own a car, recognising its social value. Despite this, its still a positive sign that respondents seem happy to choose the better options: a car that pollutes less.

While EVs are promising long-term environmental benefits and becoming more common on the roads, their newness also appears as a detriment. However, as countries adjust to accommodate more charging stations, and companies iterate to produce safer and more efficient vehicles, consumers will naturally make different choices.