7 electric cars set to get cheaper in May

THANKS to an upcoming change to the certificate of entitlement (COE) system, some electric cars look set to become more affordable. From May onwards, electric vehicles (EVs) with a maximum power output of 110 kilowatts will be classified as Category A cars, meaning many that once needed Category B COEs (which tend to be more expensive) will come down in price.

The move is aimed at making mass-market EVs more affordable. Here are 7 such cars that qualify for the change.

Hyundai Ioniq electric

Having established itself as a major player in the EV space here, Hyundai has 2 cars to offer fans of the breed. The Ioniq is a 5-door hatchback with an especially efficient powertrain that helps it to squeeze more than 300 km of range from a relatively small battery. Moving to Category A will see it become one of the most affordable EVs in the market, and represent the first chance to own a well-engineered electric car for many.

Hyundai Kona electric Standard Range

Hyundai's Kona electric combines the smooth, clean and quiet performance of an EV with the practicality of a crossover. It may have received smooth new styling after a facelift last year, but its mission to bring electric propulsion into the mainstream remains unchanged, making its move into Category A an apt one.

Kia Niro EV Short Range (maybe)

This one's tricky. In theory the less powerful, shorter-range version of the current Kia Niro EV would benefit from moving into Category A, but local importer Cycle & Carriage has none left to sell. That puts all eyes on the striking new Niro EV due to reach our shores in 2023, yet it remains to be seen if that will stay in Category A. If so, the Kia's futuristic looks would make it one of the more glamorous cars in the mainstream EV market.

Nissan Leaf

Few cars can claim any sort of track record, but the Nissan Leaf is now in its second generation and has proven itself a reliable car that's cheap to run. The five-door hatchback still has the distinction of being the only Japanese EV you can buy through official channels in Singapore, and this week's price drop to S$159,800 should broaden its appeal immensely.

MG ZS EV

Singapore's best-selling EV in 2020, the MG ZS offers a decently roomy cabin, lots of standard equipment and solid build quality. A facelifted version has a more powerful motor that could push the car back into Category B when it arrives in the third quarter of the year, so time could be tight to nab a ZS EV relatively cheaply.

Mazda MX-30

Mazda's stylish, genre-bending EV is set to arrive here in Q4 this year, and its 105 kW motor makes it another beneficiary of this week's COE change. It has a relatively short range of around 200 km by virtue of running on a comparatively small battery, but Mazda says that was a deliberate move to keep its weight low and make it a better car to drive.

Peugeot e-2008

Peugeot's first electric car for our market is based on the 2008, a stylish compact crossover. It's set for launch here sometime in the third quarter of the year, and although it's converted from a combustion car, the e-2008's EV hardware doesn't eat into boot or passenger space. Its 50 kWh battery should take it past 300 km on a single charge, and at today's COE prices it could retail for less than S$150,000.