Singapore aims to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040, making a bigger bet on electric cars as part of its efforts to cut greenhouse gases and fight climate change, the finance minister said on Tuesday.

The wealthy city-state of 5.7 million, which is hiking investment in flood defences, joins Norway, Britain and others in setting a target to cut the use of vehicles with combustion engines.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-wants-petrol-diesel-vehicles-out-by-2035-proposes-switching-to-hybrid-vehicles-278805">UK wants petrol &amp; diesel vehicles out by 2035, proposes switching to hybrid vehicles</a>

"Our vision is to phase out ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles and have all vehicles run on cleaner energy by 2040," Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said in his budget speech.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/chinese-aerobatic-team-amazes-spectators-at-singapore-airshow-280354">Singapore</a>, which has been criticised by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/musk-hands-over-first-tesla-model-3-electric-cars-to-early-buyers-18373">Tesla </a>CEO <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/musk-hands-over-first-tesla-model-3-electric-cars-to-early-buyers-18373">Elon Musk</a> as not being supportive of electric vehicles, is one of the most expensive places in the world to buy a car and there are few electric vehicles on the roads.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/musk-hands-over-first-tesla-model-3-electric-cars-to-early-buyers-18373">Musk hands over first Tesla Model 3 electric cars to early buyers</a>

In Tuesday's budget, Heng said measures to encourage electric vehicle adoption included a registration fee rebate on purchases of fully electric car and taxis.

The country, an oil-refining hub, will also expand public charging infrastructure to 28,000 points by 2030 from 1,600 now.

"As a low-lying island nation, rising sea levels threatens our very existence," Heng said, adding that he was setting aside a coastal and flood protection fund with an initial injection of S$5 billion.

Last year, the Finance&nbsp;Minister said protecting Singapore against rising sea levels could cost S$100 billion or more over 100 years.

Singapore aims to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040, making a bigger bet on electric cars as part of its efforts to cut greenhouse gases and fight climate change, the finance minister said on Tuesday.

Singapore aims to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040, making a bigger bet on electric cars as part of its efforts to cut greenhouse gases and fight climate change, the finance minister said on Tuesday. The wealthy city-state of 5.7 million, which is hiking investment in flood defences, joins Norway, Britain and others in setting a target to cut the use of vehicles with combustion engines. Also read: UK wants petrol & diesel vehicles out by 2035, proposes switching to hybrid vehicles "Our vision is to phase out ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles and have all vehicles run on cleaner energy by 2040," Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said in his budget speech. Singapore, which has been criticised by Tesla CEO Elon Musk as not being supportive of electric vehicles, is one of the most expensive places in the world to buy a car and there are few electric vehicles on the roads. Also read: Musk hands over first Tesla Model 3 electric cars to early buyers In Tuesday's budget, Heng said measures to encourage electric vehicle adoption included a registration fee rebate on purchases of fully electric car and taxis. The country, an oil-refining hub, will also expand public charging infrastructure to 28,000 points by 2030 from 1,600 now. "As a low-lying island nation, rising sea levels threatens our very existence," Heng said, adding that he was setting aside a coastal and flood protection fund with an initial injection of S$5 billion. Last year, the Finance Minister said protecting Singapore against rising sea levels could cost S$100 billion or more over 100 years.

Singapore aims to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040

heng-swee-keat

Heng Swee Keat, News on Heng Swee Keat, stories on Heng Swee Keat, articles on Heng Swee Keat, Heng Swee Keat stories at Wion, Heng Swee Keat news, Heng Swee Keat latest news

heng swee-keat

Singapore aims to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040