This comes after the transport operator established a S$30 million Autonomous Vehicle Centre of Excellence in 2022

 

COMFORTDELGRO on Wednesday (Jul 31) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with autonomous mobility company Pony.ai to form a strategic partnership for large-scale commercial robotaxi operations in China.

 

The tie-up aims to help both companies co-develop safe and sustainable autonomous vehicle (AV) solutions to be deployed globally, after commercialising robotaxi operations in the Chinese market.

 

Pony.ai received permits to operate fully autonomous driving mobility services in China&rsquo s Tier-1 cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

 

It also initiated partnerships and technological deployment in South Korea, Luxembourg, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. 

 

Group chief executive of ComfortDelGro Cheng Siak Kian said the company expects AV technology to alleviate global driver shortage and meet transport demand in underserved areas. 

 

This comes after ComfortDelGro established a S$30 million Autonomous Vehicle Centre of Excellence in 2022, as part of its wider growth strategy. It also has an international taxi network of more than 29,000 vehicles worldwide.

The centre focuses on &ldquo developing capabilities for AV operations, maintenance, and building a technology platform for future AV-based mobility services&rdquo , the company noted. 

The land transport operator is switching its fleet of over 40,000 vehicles in 12 countries to cleaner ones as part of sustainability drive, says chief sustainability and risk officer Jonathan Jong

 

FOR ComfortDelGro to reach its sustainability goals, the journey is as important as the destination.

 

&ldquo Many companies have made commitments or statements about their decarbonisation targets, but lack the details on how to get there. To us, that is not a recipe for success,&rdquo says group chief sustainability and risk officer Jonathan Jong. 

 

Since the land transport operator launched its first sustainability report in 2015, it has set itself the difficult task of collecting data and setting realistic goals.

 

The result: It was one of the first transport operators in Asia-Pacific to have its greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals approved by the Science Based Targets Initiative, considered the gold standard for corporate decarbonisation targets.

 

In its journey to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, it has set targets to reduce its absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 54.6 per cent, and a 61.2 per cent reduction in absolute Scope 3 emissions from fuel and energy-related activities, both by 2032 and compared to a 2019 baseline. 

 

The engine to realise these ambitions: transitioning its vehicles to cleaner energy ones.

 

It already uses electric power for all its rail operations, and is transitioning its car and bus fleets to cleaner energy ones: from 59 to 90 per cent by 2030, and 100 per cent by 2040 for cars and taxis and from 13 to 50 per cent by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2050 for buses.

 

While it is also investing in solar power and other sustainability measures, the move to more eco-friendly vehicles will yield the largest impact.

 

Jong explains: &ldquo We operate in 12 countries with a total fleet of over 40,000 vehicles spanning taxis, buses, trains and more. Our global reach and scale mean the choices we make about our vehicles have a significant impact on our carbon footprint, which is why prioritising cleaner energy options is central to our environmental strategy.&rdquo

 

He adds that with transport accounting for a quarter of all energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, and land transport contributing the lion&rsquo s share, the company has a social responsibility to switch to cleaner energy vehicles.

 

&ldquo We want to be both profitable and socially responsible, and we believe that this will make us more attractive to investors, clients and commuters,&rdquo he says.

 

Many roads to sustainability

With ComfortDelGro operating in diverse countries and typically providing public transport as part of its service, it is calibrating its fleet transition based on the individual markets.

 

&ldquo We have to pace ourselves to match the regulatory landscape of the various jurisdictions, while meeting the specific needs and desires of our clients, including local governments,&rdquo Jong shares.

 

In China, close to 70 per cent of its cars are electric vehicles, partly due to many of the cities&rsquo mandates that all newly registered or replacement taxis have to be fully electric vehicles.

 

&ldquo Among our global operations, our China business has the largest electric taxi fleet. We have also started implementing electric vehicle charging and battery swapping for a few years now,&rdquo says Jong.

 

In the UK, where buses are the most popular mode for public transport, its public bus fleet is the most advanced in its transition amid its global operations. More than 56 per cent of its buses there are cleaner energy. Since 2021, it has also operated hydrogen-fuelled double-decker buses, which were the first of their kind in Britain, as part of a pilot project with Transport for London.

 

ComfortDelGro is also one of the greenest bus operators in Australia, where it rolled out its 50th hybrid bus in 2023, and has formed partnerships to trial electric and hydrogen-powered buses.

 

Jong says: &ldquo Australia&rsquo s longer route distances, particularly for buses, pose a challenge for widespread electric vehicle adoption due to limited electric bus range compared to urban environments like London. In this context, hydrogen buses, with its potential for faster refuelling and extended range, might be a more appropriate alternative.&rdquo

 

In Singapore, where the group is headquartered, its commitment to vehicle electrification has gone far beyond investing in electric cars and buses.

 

It has added electric cars into the training vehicle fleet for its driving school business, and introduced Singapore&rsquo s first electric motorcycle familiarisation course. Through a joint venture with French utility firm Engie, it is also expanding the nation&rsquo s electric vehicle charging and solar infrastructure.

 

Jong explains: &ldquo When we decided to shift to electric taxis, it was crucial to ensure adequate charging infrastructure. We proactively installed fast charging facilities at our existing fuel stations to support our cabbies with convenient charging locations. Now, with the Singapore government awarding contacts to install and run charging points, we have the experience to participate in some of these opportunities too.&rdquo

 

Journeying with the community

As ComfortDelGro continues its sustainability drive, it is also giving back to society. In 2023, it deepened its engagement with the communities it serves, donating S$1.5 million in cash and nearly S$3 million of donations in kind. Its employees also collectively accumulated over 9,600 hours of volunteer work.

 

Jong shares: &ldquo One of the things that we do is ferry kids and adults with disabilities to and from events. A lot of this support is offered by our ComfortDelGro MedCare business, which is a point-to-point transport service specially adapted to the needs of those with disabilities, and the elderly who may require help to get around.&rdquo

 

Moreover, ComfortDelGro donates its buses that are at the end of their lifespan to schools and healthcare institutions.

 

&ldquo They use the vehicles to demonstrate how passengers with mobility challenges can board the bus. This is valuable because even though all of our buses and trains are accessible, some people may not know how to use the accessibility features.&rdquo

 

He adds: &ldquo We also provide training to our taxi and bus drivers on how to assist people with mobility difficulties. These are the sorts of things that may not make the headlines, but go a long way in fostering a more inclusive culture and community. The way we think of it is, we are in the business of serving communities, and that to us means making our facilities and services accessible to everyone.&rdquo

 

Jong notes that, in Singapore especially, ComfortDelGro is a familiar and longstanding part of many people&rsquo s lives.

 

&ldquo When you or your children were born, if your family didn&rsquo t have a car, it was likely one of our taxis that took you home because we have the largest taxi fleet. Our taxis or the school buses operated by our subsidiaries may have taken you to and back from school.

 

&ldquo When you start your career, there&rsquo s a high chance you&rsquo ll use our trains, taxis and buses to get to work and go home. When you get older, if you need help, there&rsquo s ComfortDelGro MedCare. We&rsquo re there for people from the day they are born to their golden years. Not many companies can say that, but we can.&rdquo