Speech By Senior Minister of State for Transport and Sustainability and the Environment, Dr Amy Khor at the Launch of NTUC Learninghub & BYD EV Training Simulation Centre

Mr Jeremy Ong, CEO, NTUC LearningHub,

Mr James Ng, Managing Director, BYD Singapore and the Philippines,

Esteemed guests, ladies and gentlemen,

1.     A very good morning to all. I am pleased to be here today for the launch of the NTUC LearningHub and BYD Electric Vehicle Training Simulation Centre. 

2.     The switch to electric vehicles (EVs) from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles is an important part of our transport decarbonisation strategy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. 

3.     The land transport sector accounts for 15% of our national emissions; hence, it is critical for this sector to decarbonise. I am pleased that we have made good progress thus far in EV adoption, having seen over 18% of new cars registered in 2023, which is almost 5 times that in 2021. Concurrently, we have also made significant progress in charger deployment, achieving our interim target of equipping 1 in 3 HDB carparks with EV chargers by 2023.

4.     Even as we continue to press on with efforts on the supply side to ramp up on infrastructure upgrades and charger deployment, we are mindful that the ecosystem and industry as a whole needs to move in tandem accordingly. A critical component of the EV ecosystem is our workers. As EVs require a different set of maintenance services from ICE vehicles, workshop technicians will need to get used to working in a high-voltage environment, where skillsets emphasise more on electrical engineering. Workers will also need to be trained to manage the safety considerations arising from this high-voltage environment.  

5.     With that in mind, to support the transition of the workforce, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) co-launched the National EV Specialist Safety (NESS) Certification Programme in 2022 to equip our automotive technicians with fundamental skills and knowledge to conduct electric vehicle and hybrid vehicle servicing in high-voltage environments. This paves the way for automotive technicians to receive further specialised training in EV maintenance and repair. 

6.     The NESS Programme is currently conducted by 6 training providers, including three polytechnics, ITE College West and transport company ComfortDelGro Engineering (CDGE), and has trained over 1,000 since 2022. Automotive technicians, personnel in automotive engineering and even aspiring EV owners can sign up for the programme; eligible applicants may receive course fee subsidies of up to 70% by SSG.

7.     I am heartened that, as one of our partners for the NESS Programme, NTUC LearningHub has been active in ensuring the workforce is equipped with capabilities to handle EVs safely. In fact, since launching the NESS Programme in March 2023, NTUC LearningHub has seen registration grow throughout the past year. 

8.     Their commitment to continuously improve the learning experience has led to the launch of the EV Training Simulation Centre today, which is a collaboration between NTUC LearningHub and BYD. On top of the fundamental safety knowledge covered under the NESS programme, the Centre enhances the training experience of participants with 6 simulators which replicate common troubleshooting issues that occur in real-world, relating to EV batteries, electric motors, and communication systems between electronic components within an EV. This offers participants a dynamic and holistic learning experience within a safe, controlled environment, enabling them to hone practical response instincts and strategies that are applicable in real life. 

9.     I am confident that participants will find the use of simulators to be greatly beneficial for their learning. On that note, let me once again congratulate NTUC Learning Hub and BYD on the launch of the NTUC LearningHub and BYD Electric Vehicle Training Simulation Centre. I wish all of you success as you embark on this journey together.  Thank you.