As demand for petrol dips in S'pore, kiosks evolve to offer retail options

The number of petrol stations in Singapore has fallen over the past two decades, mirroring a global trend as demand for petrol wanes and electric vehicle (EV) adoption grows.

- Lee Nian Tjoe

This comes even as remaining petrol stations evolve to offer more varied retail options, selling sushi, bubble tea, fast food and even kaya toast to snag consumers, in addition to charging points for EVs.

There are currently 184 petrol stations in Singapore, according to petrol station operators. This is down 17.1 per cent from the peak of 222 in 2003.

The locations of petrol stations are planned by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), which said it considers national and local land needs and key trends such as the growing adoption of EVs when setting aside space for petrol stations.

It pointed out that the number of stations in Singapore has been "largely stable" in recent years.

That said, there are signs that demand for petrol has dropped, which experts attribute to more fuel-efficient automotive technology and the take-up of EVs.

Data from the Land Transport Authority showed that the average annual mileage of a car in 2023 was 16,300km, down 19.3 per cent from 20,200km in 2003. Shorter distances travelled would mean that most cars would need less fuel.

Newer cars are also more fuel efficient. For instance, the latest Toyota Camry uses 28.1 per cent less fuel than the version from two generations ago that came with a 2litre engine and no hybrid assistance.

Hybrid technology cuts fuel consumption by reducing the load on the internal combustion engine, while EVs do not use any petrol at all. Both are increasingly popular.