Motor vehicles
Motor vehicles are a major source of air pollution. To control the emissions generated by motor vehicles and safeguard public health, NEA sets exhaust emission and fuel quality standards for all vehicles which are prescribed in the regulations (details at links below).
Euro VI Emission Standard for new and used imported vehicles All new and used petrol or diesel vehicles imported for registration in Singapore shall comply with the Euro VI emission standards (see link for more information).
Worldwide Harmonised Light-duty Test Procedure (WLTP) On 1 April 2023, Singapore adopted the WLTP as the sole test procedure for Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs). For passenger cars (including taxis), the full switch to WLTP will take effect from 1 January 2024. This is an effort to harmonise worldwide testing cycles and better reflect real-world driving conditions. By adopting the WLTP, Singapore will provide a more uniform procedure to measure emissions from new vehicles, similar to EU and Japan (see link for more information). Euro IV Emission Standard for new and used imported motorcycles All new and used motorcycles imported into Singapore for registration shall comply with the Euro IV emission standards (see link for more information). Compared to the Euro III emission standard, the tighter Euro IV emission standard will help reduce emissions of hydrocarbons (HC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are precursors to ozone. Emission Standards for in-use vehicles
All in-use vehicles shall comply with the in-use vehicle emission standards prescribed in the regulations (see link for more information).
Vehicular Fuel Quality
Every internal combustion engine motor vehicle must only use Euro V diesel or petrol that conforms with the standards prescribed in the regulations (see link for more information).
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Vehicular Emissions Scheme (VES)
NEA introduced the Vehicular Emissions Scheme (VES) on 1 January 2018 to encourage the purchase of cleaner passenger cars, including taxis. Under the scheme, the cars are categorised into one of 5 VES bands, based on the worst-performing of the following pollutants: carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM). Buyers of new cars enjoy a rebate off the Additional Registration Fee (ARF), subject to a minimum ARF payable of $5,0001, or pay a surcharge depending on the VES band of the car model. To further promote the adoption of cleaner cars and to discourage purchases of more pollutive models, the VES was enhanced with increased rebates and higher surcharges from 1 January 2021.
The enhanced VES was extended for three years from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2025, and tightened pollutant thresholds will be introduced from 1 January 2024 (see Table 1). There will be no change to the VES rebate quanta till 31 December 2023 and no change to the VES surcharge quanta till 31 December 2025 (Tables 2 and 3). The VES quanta which are applicable to the rebate bands from 1 January 2024, will be announced in the second half of 2023.
Table 1: Tightened pollutant thresholds from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2025
Band | Tightened Thresholds (from 1 January 2024) | Carbon Dioxide (g/km) | Hydro-carbons (g/km) | Carbon Monoxide (g/km) | Nitrogen Oxides (g/km) | Particulate Matter (mg/km) | A1 | <90 | =0 | =0 | =0 | =0.0 | A2 | <120 | <0.024 | <0.19 | <0.009 | <0.3 | B | <159 | <0.029 | <0.27 | <0.018 | <0.4 | C1 | <182 | <0.040 | <0.35 | <0.022 | <1.0 | C2 | >182 | >0.040 | >0.35 | >0.022 | >1.0 |
Table 2: VES Schedule 1 Jan 2024 to 31 Dec 2024 Band | Rebate/Surcharge (-/+) for Cars | Rebate/Surcharge (-/+) for Taxis | A1 | -$25,000 | -$37,500 | A2 | -$5,000 | -$7,500 | B | - | - | C1 | +$15,000 | +$22,500 | C2 | +$25,000 | +$37,500 |
Table 3: VES Schedule from 1 Jan 2024 to 31 Dec 2025 Band | Rebate/Surcharge (-/+) for Cars | Rebate/Surcharge (-/+) for Taxis | A1 | TBC* | TBC* | A2 | TBC* | TBC* | B | - | - | C1 | +$15,000 | +$22,500 | C2 | +$25,000 | +$37,500 |
* Details will be released when ready. More details on extension of enhanced VES at: https://www.nea.gov.sg/media/news/news/index/sustained-government-support-to-encourage-vehicle-electrification
1 There is an exception for fully electric cars and taxis registered from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2024 where the minimum ARF payable is $0. |
Commercial Vehicle Emissions Scheme (CVES) and Early Turnover Scheme (ETS) The Commercial Vehicle Emissions Scheme (CVES) was introduced since Apr 2021 to encourage the adoption of cleaner light commercial vehicles, including Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs), Goods-cum-Passenger Vehicles (GPVs), and small buses, all with maximum laden weight (MLW) not exceeding 3,500kg. Under the CVES, an incentive or surcharge is applied at the point of purchase, based on the worst among 5 pollutants emitted by the vehicle, namely, carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM). To continue supporting the adoption of cleaner energy vehicles, the scheme will be extended for another 2 years till 31 March 2025, with adjustments to the incentive quanta and pollutant thresholds taking effect from 1 April 2023. The Early Turnover Scheme (ETS) was first introduced in 2013 to incentivise owners of older diesel commercial vehicles and buses to replace them with a new, cleaner models. It initially covered the turnover of Pre-Euro and Euro 1 vehicles but was extended in 2015 to Euro 2 and 3 vehicles. It was extended to Euro 4 vehicles and further enhanced from 1 April 2021 until 31 March 2023. The ETS has been extended for another 2 years till 31 March 2025 with adjustments in the incentive quanta that taking effect from 1 April 2023. Under the adjusted CVES, the Band A incentive of $15,000 and Band B incentive of $5,000 would be fully disbursed to the registered vehicle owner upon vehicle registration. The Band C surcharge of $15,000, which applies to more pollutive vehicles, will be imposed upon vehicle registration. The incentive/surcharge quanta and pollutant thresholds for CVES are in Table 4. The incentives for ETS are in shown Table 5. Table 4: Pollutant Thresholds for CVES from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2025
Band | Incentive / (Surcharge) | CO2 g/km | HC g/km | CO g/km | NOx g/km | PM mg/km | A | $15,000 | ≤123 | =0.0 | =0.0 | =0.0 | =0.0 | B | $5,000 | ≤216 | ≤0.025 | ≤0.27 | ≤0.015 | ≤0.85 | C | ($15,000) | >216 | >0.025 | >0.27 | >0.015 | >0.85 |
Table 5: Incentives for Enhanced ETS from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2025
Existing Vehicle and Emission Standard | Replacement Vehicle (Euro VI or equivalent) | Incentive(COE Bonus) | LCVs | Euro II, III | Band A under CVES | 40%[2] | Band B under CVES | 20% | Euro IV | Band A under CVES | 20%[2] | Band B under CVES | 10% | HCVs | Euro II, III | Vehicle without tailpipe emissions [1] | 90%[3] | Vehicle with tailpipe emissions [1] | 60%[4] | Euro IV | Vehicle without tailpipe emissions [1] | 70%[3] | Vehicle with tailpipe emissions [1] | 25%[4] |
[1] Tailpipe emissions refer to air pollutants HC, CO, NOx and PM.
[2] The same incentive applies if replacement vehicle is an HCV without tailpipe emissions. Owners who replace an existing LCV with an HCV with tailpipe emissions will not qualify for the ETS incentive.
[3] The same incentive applies if replacement vehicle is a Band A LCV under the CVES.
[4] The same incentive applies if replacement vehicle is a Band B LCV under the CVES. After 31 March 2025, the ETS for eligible vehicles with MLW up to 3,500kg will cease. Vehicle owners are encouraged to turn over their vehicles early before the ETS for these vehicles are discontinued. The Government will be studying other means, including regulatory levers, to encourage the early turnover of older commercial vehicles and buses in the future.
More details on the adjustments to CVES and ETS from 1 April 2023 can be found here: https://www.nea.gov.sg/media/news/news/index/extension-and-adjustments-to-cves-and-ets |
Smoky vehicles
Under the Environmental Protection and Management (Vehicular Emissions) Regulations, it is an offence for any vehicle to emit smoke while on the road. Owners of smoky vehicles can be fined up to $2,000 for the first offence and $5,000 for subsequent offences, if convicted in court.
NEA takes stringent enforcement action against smoky vehicles on the roads. Owners of smoky vehicles will be required to send their vehicles for smoke emission inspection at the authorised vehicle inspection centres and the owners will be fined if the vehicle fails the inspection. In addition, the owners will be required to rectify and send their vehicles for a re-inspection which they must pass before the vehicle will be allowed on the road.
Owners should ensure that their vehicles are properly maintained in good condition for use on the road. Owners should also practice good driving habits (engage the correct gear) and avoid overloading their vehicles in order to prevent smoke emission. To prevent smoke emission from two-stroke motorcycles, riders should follow the manufacturer’s recommended fuel-to-lubricant mix or alternatively use higher grade smoke-free lubricant.
Idling engines
Under the Environmental Protection and Management (Vehicular Emissions) Regulations, it is an offence for the driver of a motor vehicle to leave the engine of a vehicle idling while it is stationary, for reasons other than traffic conditions. The rationale is to minimise pollution. It will in turn reduce fuel wastage. Exceptions allowed include vehicles where the engine is needed to be running for operation of on-board equipment (e.g. refrigerated trucks), moving vehicles in a queue, vehicles undergoing inspection or repair and enforcement/emergency vehicles. Owners who leave their vehicle engines idling can be fined up to $2,000 for the first offence and $5,000 for subsequent offences, if convicted in court.
NEA regularly engages stakeholders to educate and remind their drivers to switch off the vehicle engines when stationary. In addition, NEA works closely with authorised vehicle inspection centres (VICOM, JIC Inspection Services and STA Inspection) to distribute educational pamphlets to remind motorists that it is an offence to leave the engine of the vehicle idling while stationary for reasons other than traffic conditions.
Report an incident
Members of the public who spot smoky vehicles or idling engines are encouraged to report them to NEA, providing details such as the vehicle registration number, location, date and time of the incident via the channels listed below.
• Feedback: Online feedback form
• MyENV Mobile App: iPhone/Android
Download the following brochures for more details:
Off-road diesel engines
Off road diesel engines (ORDEs) are industrial plant or are installed in an industrial plant. ORDEs to be imported for use in Singapore shall comply with the EU Stage II, US Tier II or Japan Tier I off-road diesel engine emission standards as prescribed in the regulations (see link for more information). Some examples of ORDEs are cranes, excavators, forklifts, power generators, etc. Diesel engines used in vessels, railway locomotives, and aircraft are not regulated by NEA.
In the case of used off-road diesel engines, an emission test report for each and every ORDE shall be submitted to confirm conformance to the prescribed emission standards before they will be approved for used in Singapore.
The online application form for approval to import ORDE for use in Singapore is available here.