Thanks to a new cross-country EV charging network, you can soon drive your electric vehicle from Singapore to Penang.
Yes, once borders reopen, hopping into an electric car for a cross-border romp will be made easy and convenient.
The new high performance cross-country EV charging network, Southeast Asia’s first, has been set up by Shell and Porsche Asia Pacific. The partnership has now made road trips in electric vehicles between Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Penang a possibility.
Charging Up Road Trips
Range anxiety, a common fear that most EV owners have, will soon be a thing of the past. With extended range capabilities and fast charging technologies, EVs have now become a viable mode of everyday transport. Coupled with the implementation of a charging infrastructure, it is now allowing for an emission-free future for transport.
The jointly announced implementation of Southeast Asia’s first cross-border high performance charging (HPC) network is proof of that. The Porsche and Shell partnership demonstrates the brands’ shared commitment to drive the future of electric mobility in the region.
Via the new cross-country EV charging network, EVs can now travel smoothly and conveniently between Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Penang. The HPC will spearhead connectivity between the two countries, which handle one of the world’s busiest international land border crossings at the Sultan Iskandar Building and Woodlands Checkpoint.
The cross-country EV charging network consists of 12 charge points at six Shell stations strategically located along Malaysia’s North-South highway. According to Matthias Becker, Vice President Region Overseas and Emerging Markets of Porsche AG, the HPC will serve as a lighthouse project for other countries to follow.
High Charge Capacity
Through this partnership, six Shell stations will be equipped with 180 kW direct-current (DC) chargers, offering the highest charging capacity across Singapore and Malaysia. The chargers come with two CCS Type 2 charging connectors.
This will allow a single vehicle to be charged at up to 180 kW, or two vehicles to charge simultaneously at up to 90 kW each. The offering will be rolled out in stages with four stations to be ready in the second half of 2021. Two additional stations are also due to be completed by the first half of 2022.
The sites will be integrated in the existing Shell charging networks. These currently comprise 18 Shell Recharge 50kW fast charge points at Shell stations and 87 Greenlots public charge points in Singapore as well as 18 “Reserve + Shell Recharge” charge points in Malaysia.
Furthermore, they will complement the established 175kW high performance chargers available at all Porsche Centres in Malaysia, as well as support the growing “Porsche Destination Charging” network at selected hotels, airports, sports clubs, and other lifestyle venues.
The chargers will be available for all EVs utilising the CCS Type 2 charging connector widely used across both countries. Naturally, with Porsche a major partner, owners will enjoy special rates at Shell Recharge as well as advance reservation option.
Shell’s new 180kW high performance chargers can charge the Porsche Taycan from zero to 80 percent capacity in around 30 minutes. This will provide up to 390km of extra travel distance. The Taycan has a combined WLTP-rated range of between 354 to 431 km.
(Images: Porsche)