By most commonly held definitions, the Tesla Model S is a zero-emissions vehicle?the all-electric vehicle emits no exhaust while driving. That’s not a convincing argument for Singapore’s Land Transport Authority, however: The agency hit Singapore’s first Tesla Model S owner with a tax of S$15,000 (roughly $10,840), ranking his electric sedan in the dirtiest category of high-pollution automobiles.
Channel NewsAsia brings us the story of Joe Nguyen, who has spent several months trying to import a Model S he purchased in Hong Kong. This being the first time the Land Transport Authority tested a Model S, Mr. Nguyen didn’t know exactly what to expect. But he certainly didn’t anticipate being fined.
“I don’t get it, there are no emissions,” Nguyen said in an interview. “Then they send out the results from VICOM, stating that the car was consuming 444 watt hour per kilometer (Wh/km). These are not specs that I have seen on Tesla’s website, or anywhere else for that matter. And then underneath it, there’s a conversion to CO2 emission.” Singapore’s government operates a Carbon Emissions-Based Vehicle Scheme (CEVS) to encourage its citizens to buy low-pollution vehicles. The cleaner the vehicle, the larger the tax rebate; the greater the emissions, the heavier the surcharge. A car that emits less than 95 grams CO2 per kilometer driven is eligible for S$30,000 in rebates (roughly $21,680); a vehicle that...