EV industry here small but growing, opening new career paths

New skills becoming increasingly important as Singapore’s electric car population climbs

- Joanna Seow Assistant Business Editor

A sense of mission infuses Mr Dave Wong's work at electric mobility firm EVCO.

He uses data analytics and a customised dashboard to help customers understand the potential impact of switching from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electric vehicles (EVS) in terms of cost savings, fleet optimisation and reduced emissions.

The sustainability and digital systems analyst, 27, describes it as purposeful work that drove him to switch to the field in July 2022.

"My goal is to create quantifiable impacts, so that our customers know what their climate impact is, and we know our company is making a difference through them," said Mr Wong, who used to work as a business analyst in security technology.

His colleague Muhammad Hanafi Omar, who joined EVCO in September as a mobility engineer, also finds the sustainability aspect of the EV industry appealing.

"It's a growing industry, and also, it's good for the earth; it's greener," said the 37-year-old, who works with electric vans and uses diagnostic tools to maintain and inspect them before they are sent to customers.

Mr Hanafi, who is still undergoing training, spent the first 14 years of his career inspecting vehicles in the traditional automotive line, where he often found himself specked in diesel oil or petrol at the end of a work day.

So although his pay is about the same as before, he said he was attracted to the job by the cleaner work environment, new types of vehicles and the opportunity to learn new skills.

New jobs and skills like Mr Hanafi's and Mr Wong's are emerging in Singapore's automotive industry as demand for EVs grows.

The number of electric cars on the road here as at the end of November was 68.2 per cent higher than at the end of 2022.