1. Singapore Power today launched its electric vehicle technology development initiative ‘EVs@SP’ to study the impact that electric vehicle charging can have on the electricity grid. Working closely with A*STAR, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) and industry partners, ‘EVs@SP’ is part of Singapore Power’s efforts to keep pace with technological trends, in order to continue serving a reliable supply of electricity to Singapore consumers.
    
2. Singapore Power will be introducing three electric Kangoos vehicles into its operating fleet with industry partner, Renault. The EV trials will facilitate the testing and evaluation of the threshold levels and the impact of EV’s integration on the power grid. Data collected would be important to ensure the resilience of the grid network to prepare for possible public adoption of EVs.
    
3. Mr Wong Kim Yin, Group Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Power said, “Delivering a reliable supply of electricity to our customers will always be our top priority. We must anticipate the potential effect that the adoption of EVs may have on the electricity network, to ensure that we can continue to deliver high reliability of power supply.”
    
4. The launch was symbolised by the handover of a Kangoo EV which was officiated jointly by Mr Wong Kim Yin, Group Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Power, Mr Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman, A*STAR, Mr Chee Hong Tat, Chief Executive, Energy Market Authority and Mr Andre Roy, Managing Director, Wearnes Automotive.
    
5. “The adoption of electric vehicles by Singapore Power is a step towards understanding and developing an intelligent and secure energy infrastructure for our future. A*STAR has keen interest to work closely with companies like Singapore Power to enhance Singapore’s smart grid value chain from R&D initiation to commercial testbedding and eventual technology adoption. Through such public-private partnerships to innovate energy solutions, Singapore’s fast emerging smart energy economy will be a key demonstrator for the global energy landscape”, said Mr Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman, A*STAR.
    
6. “We are proud to be a partner with SP PowerGrid in pioneering the use of Electric Vehicles in Singapore. We believe this is a big step towards innovation and to reduce carbon emissions for a sustainable environment. First to hit the roads will be a full-sized sedan that is practical for everyone with a very low running cost”, said Andre Roy, Group Managing Director, Wearnes Automotive Pte Ltd.
    
7. As a kickoff to the Electric Vehicle trials, SP PowerGrid, a member of Singapore Power Group, also signed Memoranda of Understanding with its technology partners in this test bed project - the Institute for Infocomm Research (A*STAR) for collaboration on research and development of smart grids and infrastructure security; Campus for Research and Technological Enterprise (Technology University of Munich) to develop innovative technologies and future transportation concepts related to Electric Vehicles; and Power Automation and Siemens on smart grid integration for charging of Electric Vehicles.

About Singapore Power
Singapore Power Group (SP) is a leading energy utility group in the Asia Pacific. It owns and operates electricity and gas transmission and distribution businesses in Singapore and Australia. In Singapore, SP is the largest electricity and gas utility group, providing electricity and gas transmission and distribution, and market support services to over a million industrial and domestic customers.

About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is the lead agency for fostering world-class scientific research and talent for a vibrant knowledge-based and innovation-driven Singapore. A*STAR oversees 14 biomedical sciences and physical sciences and engineering research institutes, and six consortia & centres, located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis as well as their immediate vicinity. A*STAR supports Singapore's key economic clusters by providing intellectual, human and industrial capital to its partners in industry. It also supports extramural research in the universities, hospitals, research centres, and with other local and international partners.

About Renault
With more than 350 industrial and commercial sites and present in 118 countries, the Renault group designs, develops, manufactures and sells a broad range of innovative, safe and environmentally respectful vehicles. Renault pursues its strategy of profitable growth under the Renault, Dacia and Renault Samsung Motors brands. The Renault group employs 128 000 people worldwide, reported a net revenue of €38,971 millions in 2010 and has sold more than 2,7 million vehicles in 2011.

About Wearnes Automotive
Established in 1906, Wearnes Automotive Pte Ltd currently distributes and retails a range of premium passenger marques. The company operates in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Wearnes Automotive is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SGX Mainboard-listed WBL Corporation Limited (Wearnes), an international conglomerate with businesses in technology, automotive, property and engineering & distribution.

• Singapore: Bentley, Bugatti, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, McLaren, Renault,Volvo
• Malaysia: BMW, Volkswagen, Volvo
• Thailand: Jaguar, Mazda, Volvo
• Indonesia: Bentley, Jaguar, Mazda
• Hong Kong: Renault, Volvo