EV road tax
EV road tax is the road tax structure for electric cars in Singapore, based on power rating rather than engine capacity, with a usage component reflecting their lack of fuel duty.
What it means
Road tax for petrol and diesel cars in Singapore is calculated from engine capacity, measured in cubic centimetres. Electric cars have no engine capacity in that sense, so LTA uses a different basis: the motor's power rating, measured in kilowatts. The EV road tax is built from a power-based component plus an additional usage component. That usage component exists because electric cars do not buy petrol or diesel and therefore pay no fuel excise duty. Fuel duty is one of the ways the government recovers revenue and prices in the cost of road use, so the additional flat component on EV road tax is designed to keep the contribution of an electric car broadly in line with an equivalent combustion car. The structure has been phased in and adjusted over time, so the exact rates depend on the car's power rating and the rules in force.
Why it matters in Singapore
As more drivers switch to electric cars, EV road tax is a real line item in the running cost of ownership, and it works differently from the petrol-car system most owners are used to. Understanding that it is power-based, and that the extra usage component replaces fuel duty rather than being an arbitrary penalty, helps an owner compare an EV against a petrol equivalent on a fair footing. It also explains why a high-powered electric car can carry a noticeably higher road tax than a modest one.
What it means for car owners
If you own or are considering an electric car, check the power rating on the vehicle log card and the current EV road tax rates so the figure does not surprise you at renewal time. Road tax is just one part of the cost of running an EV, alongside electricity, insurance, and depreciation. Whatever the powertrain, keeping the car clean, protected, and cosmetically sound supports its resale value, which is the cost most owners feel hardest over the COE term.