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AsiaOne
2 days ago
- Health
- AsiaOne
'Your cue to show some care': LTA rolls out new Helping Hand card for commuters who need more assistance, Singapore News
Commuters who need a little extra help when using public transport will soon have a simpler way to ask for it — with the launch of a new card under the Helping Hand scheme. In a Facebook post on Friday (May 30), the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said that commuters can indicate the type of assistance they need — such as directions, help with tapping their fare card, or being alerted when they reach their stop — on a blank space at the back of the Universal Helping Hand card. "Spot someone carrying a bright yellow card? That's your cue to show some care!" Said LTA on their Facebook post, adding that the card makes it easier for staff or other commuters to offer the necessary help. The Helping Hand scheme is an initiative by the Caring SG Commuters Committee to foster a more caring, welcoming and inclusive public transport system. In March, then-Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Baey Yam Keng said in his ministry's Budget debate that the new card will be in addition to the earlier cards issued under the scheme. Under the initiative, the LTA first piloted the "May I have a seat please" sticker in October 2019 to help passengers be aware of those with hidden or invisible medical conditions who need a seat more for their public transport journeys. It later included a lanyard and card for passengers with long-term conditions in April 2021, while the sticker version is more suitable for people with short-term medical conditions. Two new cards were later introduced in May 2023 — a "This is a wheelchair" card which helps paediatric wheelchair users alert public transport staff and other passengers to give way to them, and a "Please alert me when I am approaching my stop" card for passengers with visual impairments or conditions like dementia. More than 15,000 lanyards and cards were distributed as last November and feedback "has been positive", said then-Minister of Transport Chee Hong Tat on February. Just like the three cards, the new Universal Helping Hand card has a bright yellow look. In a Facebook post on Friday, Baey, who is now Minister of State for Transport, said that the new card was developed based on commuter feedback, which recognises that those travelling on public transport have different needs. "I hope this makes commuting more inclusive and comfortable for everyone," he added. LTA said that commuters can collect the new card at passenger service services in MRT stations and bus interchanges, as well as SimplyGo ticket offices. AsiaOne has contacted LTA for more information on the new Helping Hand card. [[nid:697657]] chingshijie@
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Car COE renewals in Q1 2025 highest since same period in 2020
Experts attribute the higher COE renewals to the uncertain economic outlook, prompting owners to hold off new car purchases. PHOTO: ST FILE SINGAPORE – Some 2,834 cars had their certificates of entitlement (COEs) renewed in the first three months of 2025, more than double the number for the same period in 2024. The figure is also the highest for the quarter since 2020, when there were 5,558 renewals. Since then, first-quarter COE renewals had decreased – from 2,730 units in 2021 to 1,825 in 2022 and 1,129 in 2023. The figure climbed to 1,378 in 2024. Experts attribute the higher renewals to the uncertain economic outlook, which prompted owners to hold off new car purchases. Others are biding their time for electric vehicle (EV) technology to mature before they switch from their existing cars that run on petrol. This comes at a time when there is a larger population of cars reaching the end of their COE lifespan in 2025 than in the past few years. A COE is a requirement for a car to be used on the road. It has an initial lifespan of 10 years, and can be renewed by five or 10 years. Data published by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on May 13 showed that in the first quarter of 2025, five-year renewals accounted for 67 per cent of the 1,204 renewals in Category A, which is for smaller or less powerful cars. In contrast, 74.4 per cent of the 1,630 renewals in Category B – which is for larger, more powerful cars – were for 10 years. Dr Zafar Momin, an automotive industry consultant and adjunct professor at NUS Business School, said the recent renewals may have been driven by risk-averse owners who are concerned about the economic uncertainty and want to avoid shelling out for a new car, which will be costlier than renewing the COE of their existing cars. For example, a person who bought a Toyota Corolla Altis in 2015 would have paid less than $120,000, including a COE. Renewing the COE of this car in 2025 is more affordable than replacing the car with a new one, which is priced at about $170,000 with a COE. The cost to renew a COE is based on the average COE premium in the three preceding months. A five-year COE renewal costs half as much as a 10-year one. The data shows that the number of COE renewals increases when the cost falls. Experts said that while the cost to renew a COE today is high, consumers will find that it is still more affordable than buying a new car. In March, a 10-year renewal for a Category A COE cost $92,525 – the lowest since September 2024, when it was $91,697. This was driven by an $8,601 drop in the premium at the first tender exercise in February. Accordingly, more car owners renewed their Category A COEs in March compared with the previous two months, with 598 doing so. Similarly, more owners of larger cars renewed their COEs in January, when the cost – $109,164 – was the lowest for the quarter. Mr Raymond Tang, managing director of used-car dealership Yong Lee Seng Motor, said the population of cars reaching the end of their COE life includes those that will get a low scrap rebate. It makes financial sense to forfeit the rebate and renew the COE of such cars, he said. For a small and economical family car such as the Mitsubishi Attrage, the scrap rebate before the end of the COE is $2,500. Mr Tang said five-year renewals tend to be more popular for Category A COE cars because the owners of such cars are likely to be more budget-conscious. However, the COE cannot be further renewed at the end of five years and the car must be deregistered. He said owners of Category B cars are less constrained by their budget and want to have the option to continue using the car for longer. Mr Oliver Ong, managing director of Accord Motor Enterprise, which offers COE renewal loans, said the number of inquiries for such loans at his company has increased by around 20 per cent since late 2024. Associate Professor Alberto Salvo from the NUS Department of Economics noted that some owners may be renewing COEs to hold onto their existing cars that run on petrol for a bit longer before making the switch to EVs. These owners, he said, are using the time to watch the development of EV technology and how the charging network develops, and to hear the experience of people they know who have made the switch. This is as EV adoption speeds up. In the first four months of 2025, 40 per cent of all new cars, or 5,947 units, were EVs. Overall, however, EVs are still the minority, making up 6.4 per cent of the total car population as at April 30. Associate Professor Steve Yim, an atmospheric scientist at NTU's Asian School of the Environment and Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, noted that the higher number of COE renewals slows air-quality improvement, as newer vehicles are built to meet more stringent emission standards. New petrol-powered cars registered from September 2017 have to meet the Euro VI emissions standard. It imposes stricter limits on vehicle tailpipe emissions than the Euro IV standard, which was introduced in 2006. Content creator See Neng Tat, 35, renewed the COE for his Mercedes-Benz A180 car in April for 10 years, and hopes to continue using his vehicle for as long as possible. Considering the money and effort he poured into his car over the past 10 years to maintain and upgrade it, the self-professed 'car guy' said he is not attracted to new cars with their many high-tech features. Mr Henry Seah, 44, is keeping an eye on COE renewal prices. He is prepared to spend up to $50,000 to renew the COE of his Mazda Biante multipurpose vehicle by November. Even though this may mean that he can use his vehicle for only five more years, the director of a finance company and father of three said he is not willing to part with more than $100,000 for a 10-year renewal because it is 'just crazy'. Lee Nian Tjoe is senior transport correspondent at The Straits Times, where he also oversees the Motoring section . Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
New Paper
24-05-2025
- New Paper
LTA impounds 78 AMDs to tackle rise in fires linked to non-compliant devices in residential areas
Seventy-eight active mobility devices (AMDs) in public areas and housing estates were impounded during the Land Transport Authority's (LTA) islandwide enforcement operation this week. The operation is part of LTA's ongoing efforts to address the rising number of fire incidents involving non-compliant AMDs in residential areas. AMDs include power-assisted bicycles (PABs), personal mobility devices (PMDs) and personal mobility aids. LTA is empowered to take enforcement action against non-compliant PABs and PMDs, and will issue notices to owners of impounded registered devices, it said in a Facebook post on May 23. PABs and e-scooters must be registered with LTA. Owners of unregistered devices can contact LTA for verification and investigation, it added. It is an offence to keep non-compliant PABs. Offenders may be fined up to $10,000 or face imprisonment of up to six months, or both. LTA can impound non-compliant PABs from any location, or any devices found on public paths including Housing Board common corridors and stairwells, if they are deemed to endanger other public path users. It reminded the public to purchase and use devices and parts, including batteries, only from original manufacturers or authorised retailers. In its annual statistics report released on Feb 13, the Singapore Civil Defence Force said that the total number of fires involving AMDs rose from 55 in 2023 to 67 in 2024. Out of the 67 AMD fires, 44 were in residential areas. For more information on AMD-related fires, visit
Business Times
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Business Times
Zeekr 7X review: Move over, Musk. And Benz, beware
[HANGZHOU] Fledgling car brands need a breakthrough model if they're to take off, and I think the 7X is Zeekr's. The easiest way to understand this pure electric crossover is that it's yet another Chinese rival to the Tesla Model Y – except it's too good to be just another rival. While Tesla wrote the playbook on how to do a successful electric vehicle, the 7X shows that Zeekr is aiming to take things further, with the help of sumptuous interiors and some Scandinavian design. It's about the same size as the Model Y, with a long 2,900 mm wheelbase that gives back-seat passengers space to stretch out. But beyond the numbers, it's the athletic stance that stands out, along with smooth lines accented by just enough muscle to give it some visual heft. Chinese versions have a luminous 'stargate' grille that can light up as if to signal an alien mothership. That feature's unlikely to make it past the Land Transport Authority's wary eye for approval here, but it's one of many signs that Zeekr isn't content with anonymity. There are more inside, where you're surrounded by pleasing textures and materials that feel expensive, including Nappa leather in the top 'Privilege' version that Zeekr claims is 25 per cent more comfortable than regular leather. The tidy, minimalist layout adds strong Scandi energy, which only makes sense, since former Bentley design chief Stefan Sielaff heads up Zeekr's main styling studio in Gothenburg, Sweden. A 16-inch touchscreen handles most of the controls, but there are still physical switches for the everyday stuff, a quiet rebuke to carmakers that equate modernity with menu-diving. PHOTO: BIG FISH PUBLISHING I wouldn't have minded trying the 7X there, but instead I had a brief go in Hangzhou, the brand's hometown. It wasn't enough to form deep impressions of the Zeekr's handling, but more than enough to be impressed by its refinement. The cabin is a quiet place, the ride is supple, and the car's setup feels like it aims more for serenity than stimulation. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up Still, if you do want performance, the 7X doesn't fall short. European markets get a single-motor, rear-drive version with 416 horsepower and up to 615 km of range (WLTP), or a twin-motor, all-wheel-drive rocket with 630 hp and a 3.8-second dash to 100 kmh. Optional air suspension can lift the car 4.5 cm if you fancy going off the beaten path, though a better reason for having it is that it makes the ride feel plush and composed. Zeekr has also come out guns blazing with driver assist features. In China at least, the 7X has lidar, radar and sonar sensors, plus enough cameras to film a Netflix special. They enable Navigation Zeekr Pilot (NZP), a self-driving system already on Chinese roads. I didn't try it out in a 7X, but had a short go in a 007 GT, a sporty wagon destined for export markets. All I had to do was set a destination, engage the system, and then sit back while the Zeekr piloted itself all the way to my car park entrance. Regulations meant I had to jiggle the steering wheel every once in a while, to convince the car that I hadn't stepped out for lunch, while the NZP system spookily did the actual driving. It obeyed traffic lights, steered through messy junctions and, just like a real driver, crept above the speed limit now and then. It even decided on its own to overtake a lorry, executing the move smoothly and using the indicators politely, which already puts it one-up on most BMW drivers. Who knows how long it'll be before NZP pops out of the regulations bottle outside of China? The 7X Privilege's nap-friendly passenger-side rear seat reclines electrically, extends a leg rest and offers massage and ventilation. PHOTO: BIG FISH PUBLISHING Until then, the 7X has to impress by being a car you actually want to drive. It helps that it's ergonomically sound inside, with most things falling to hand easily. A 16-inch touchscreen handles most of the controls, but there are still physical switches for the everyday stuff, a quiet rebuke to carmakers that equate modernity with menu-diving. A Snapdragon 8295 chip keeps the infotainment system snappy, while 5G connectivity and over-the-air updates promise that your Zeekr will get smarter over time. The boot swallows 539 litres of cargo, there's a useful 62-litre frunk, and thoughtful touches include under-seat drawers and even a Zeekr-developed child seat with its own airbag for a baby's head. It's the Privilege version that really sets the 7X apart from the Model Y and its ilk. Its nap-friendly passenger-side rear seat reclines electrically, extends a leg rest and offers massage and ventilation. There's also a flip-out screen and a fold-down tray table, which I first encountered in a Rolls-Royce, even though this car is a world apart from old-money opulence. All that is why Elon Musk has to sleep with one eye open, but the traditional luxury players should be worried, too. Zeekr clearly intends to become known for being more high-tech than Mercedes and more high-end than Tesla, and the 7X spells that out plainly. That's exactly what breakthrough models do. Electric Zeekr 7X Privilege AWD Motor Power/Torque: 630 hp/710 Nm Battery Type/Net Capacity: Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC)/100 kWh Charging Time/Type: 5.5 hours (22 kW AC), 16 minutes 10 to 80 per cent (360 kW DC) Range: 543 km (WLTP) 0-100 kmh: 3.8 seconds Top Speed: 210 kmh Efficiency: 19.9 kWh/100 km (estimated) Agent: Premium Automobiles BEV Price: TBA Available Third quarter, 2025
AsiaOne
23-05-2025
- AsiaOne
LTA impounds 78 non-compliant AMDs to address rising number of fire incidents , Singapore News
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) impounded 78 non-compliant Active Mobility Devices (AMD) in an islandwide enforcement operation in public areas and housing estates from May 19 to May 23. In a Facebook post on Friday, the authority said this is part of ongoing efforts to address and prevent the rising number of fire incidents involving non-compliant Power-Assisted Bicycles (PABs) and Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) in residential areas. AMDs include PABs, PMDs, and personal mobility aids. Under the law, LTA can impound non-compliant PABs from any location, and non-compliant PMDs on public paths such as HDB common corridors and stairwells. The authority said it will issue notices to owners of these registered AMDs which were seized. It added that PABs and e-scooters must be registered with it, and owners of unregistered devices can contact LTA for verification and investigation. Members of the public are reminded to only purchase and use devices and parts, including batteries, from original manufacturers or authorised retailers. It is an offence to use non-compliant devices, and one may be fined up to $10,000, or face a jail term of up to six months, or both. On May 14, two people were taken to hospital after a fire in a Toa Payoh HDB flat. Preliminary investigations by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) indicated the fire likely originated from a PMD battery. According to the SCDF annual report released in February, the total number of fires involving AMDs rose from 55 in 2023 to 67 in 2024. Out of the 67, 44 of the AMD fires were in residential areas. [[nid:718027]]
