S'pore distributor of BYD electric vehicles ties up with Uber

S Dreams, a wholly-owned subsidiary of mainboard-listed S i2i, will run the latest BYD e6, which costs about S$200,000 including registration taxes and COE.

This compact hatchback EV is the same made-in-China model used by the pure electric fleet of HDT Singapore Taxi, the Republic's newest cab operator. But unlike the HDT version, S Dreams' e6 is upgraded for a range of 400 km from 300 km, with charging time dropping to 1.5 hours.

Another difference is that the S Dreams drivers are its employees. While Uber is S Dreams' app service provider and use of the cars is based on Uber rates, S Dreams drivers will be paid a basic salary plus incentives "upon achieving KPIs (key performance indicators)", explains S Dreams assistant vice-president Spencer Tan. And the business will be "viable because of the energy savings".