Petrol stations in Singapore evolve to serve EV drivers and walk-in customers

“The margins on these ancillary services are often better than the petrol itself,” he said.

As fuel sales drop, operators that do not pivot may have to bow out. As many petrol stations occupy prime land in residential areas, they have significant potential to be repurposed for community use, said Assoc Prof Theseira.

But converting petrol stations to pure EV charging stations may not be realistic for Singapore, as they are typically practical for long-distance travel, for instance along Malaysia’s highways, Assoc Prof Theseira said.

“The idea of having a (dedicated) EV charging hub doesn’t make a lot of sense. In Singapore, users would prefer to bring their EV to a shopping centre, plug in the vehicle, go and eat a meal, and go and run some errands,” he added. 

According to the Urban Redevelopment Authority, there are about 180 petrol stations islandwide. 

The authority said future plans for these sites will consider evolving land-use needs, including Singapore’s growing adoption of EVs.