ComfortDelGro to invest $37m in clean energy tech over next 5 years

Singapore-based mobility firm ComfortDelGro Group is committing S$50 million (US$37.1 million) in clean energy technology and research over the next five years as part of its push towards upping its overall sustainability quotient.

Photo credit: The ComfortDelGro Group

In a newly inked memorandum of understanding with the National University of Singapore (NUS), ComfortDelGro said it will invest about S$10 million (US$7.4 million) in a mobility-focused laboratory called the CDG-NUS Smart & Sustainable Mobility Living Lab.

The lab, which is expected to be set up by this September, will focus on energy sustainability and integrated urban mobility as well as smart and intelligent mobility technologies.

In addition, the company will also seek to set aside another S$40 million (US$29.7 million) to replace its fleet of diesel buses with electric buses and support infrastructure and mobility technologies.

Meanwhile, its wholly owned subsidiary ComfortDelGro Engineering will seek to explore the introduction of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure into the campus’ car parks to study the impact of using EVs for traveling in and around the campus.

As part of its sustainability effort, the company plans to transit towards a clean-energy fleet, improve energy efficiency, adopt renewables, and drive business innovation.

Its bus subsidiary Metroline has begun the transition,  the company said in a statement. It’s currently operating 97 fully electric buses in London and is the operational partner for Transport for London’s hydrogen fuel cell vehicles project.

Metroline also plans to trial double-deck hydrogen fuel cell buses this year, as well as complete the construction of a hydrogen fuelling facility at its Perivale Garage in West London.

With a total fleet size of over 40,000 buses, taxis, and rental vehicles, ComfortDelGro operates across seven countries including Singapore, Australia, China, the UK, Ireland, Vietnam, and Malaysia.

Currency converted from Singapore dollar to US dollar: US$1 = S$1.35.