Singapore: Feebate

Overview

 * Policy Type: Feebate
 * Program: Carbon Emissions-based Vehicle Scheme (CEVS)
 * Regulating body: Ministry of Transport
 * Applicability: New cars, taxis, and newly imported used cars with emissions ≤ 160g CO2/km or ≥ 211g CO2/km

History
On 28 November 2012, Singapore introduced a feebate scheme for low carbon vehicles. The Carbon Emissions-based Vehicle Scheme (CEVS) was implemented on 1 January 2013, replacing the existing Green Vehicle Rebate (GVR) scheme that expired on 31 December 2012. The GVR scheme was introduced in 2001 to encourage purchasing green vehicles. Electric, hybrid and compressed natural gas vehicles are given a rebate of up to 40% of the vehicle’s Open Market Value (OMV) which is offset against the vehicle’s Additional Registration Fee (ARF).

In a feebate program, more efficient vehicles receive rebates and less-efficient vehicles are assessed fees. For more information, see ICCT's Best Practices for Feebate Program Design and Implementation.

Banding
The CEVS is broken into different emission levels and implementation periods.

Vehicles with low carbon emissions
 * All new cars, taxis, and imported used cars registered from 1 January 2013 with low carbon emissions less than or equal to 160g carbon dioxide emissions per kilometer (CO2/km) qualify for rebates between $5,000 and $20,000 (SGD), which will be offset against the ARF.
 * Taxi companies that adopt low emission models for their taxi fleet will qualify for rebates between $7,500 and $30,000 (SGD). The rebate for taxis is set at 50% higher compared to cars to encourage taxi companies to adopt lower emission models for their fleet, as taxis generally have higher mileage and thus typically emit more CO2 per year than cars.
 * Since non-Euro V-compliant diesel models emit significantly more fine particulate matter, they will not qualify for the ARF rebates under CEVS even if they fall within the rebate emission bands. This applies to both diesel cars and diesel taxis.

Vehicles with high carbon emissions
 * All new cars, taxis, and imported used cars registered from 1 July 2013 with high carbon emissions equal to or more than 211 CO2/km incur a corresponding registration surcharge between $5,000 and $20,000 (SGD).
 * Registration surcharges for taxi models with high carbon emission are set 50% higher (between $7,500 and $30,000) since that taxis generally clock higher mileage than cars.
 * Diesel models, whether Euro V-compliant or not, that fall within the surcharge bands will incur the appropriate registration surcharge. This applies to both diesel cars and diesel taxis.

Labeling
To help car buyers make informed decisions, the CO2/km performance data for each car model is available on mandatory Fuel Economy Label (FEL) information labels affixed on cars that are on sale in showrooms. The label, which carries Singapore’s Land Transport Authority’s (LTA) logo, is required to be affixed on cars and light goods vehicles (LGVs) that have been approved from 1 July 2012 and are displayed for sale.

The new label highlights the model’s CO2/km performance, fuel consumption, and relative carbon emission performance. The label also shows the car banding under the CEVS and corresponding rebate or surcharge to encourage consumers to shift to more fuel efficient and lower carbon emission models.

Links
Details on CEVS

Singapore Ministry of Transport

Fuel Economy Label information on ONE.MOTORING website

ICCT Best Practices for Feebate Program Design and Implemetation