Edward Tan has been with Hong Seh Motors since 1997. From 2000, he served as Government Director of Hong Seh Group, his household’s enterprise based in Singapore in 1936. In 2008, Tan created Hong Seh Marine to diversify pursuits and construct on a relationship with Riva for the reason that late Nineteen Nineties. The corporate’s new yachts portfolio now consists of Ferretti Yachts, Pershing, Riva, Sunreef, Boston Whaler, Schaefer and Zodiac. Hong Seh is an official sponsor of the Singapore Crusing Federation, together with for the 2024 Olympics in France.
He’s an advocate of the transfer in direction of clear motor propulsion.
I’m the third era of the Hong Seh household enterprise, which was based in Singapore in 1936. We’ve been concerned within the automotive trade for a very long time.
In 1982, we began automotive leasing, then represented Ferrari in Singapore from 1983 till 2008. We constructed the ‘Ferrari life-style’ and market in Singapore, reaching 80 models a yr. We additionally represented Maserati from 1999 to 2018.
In 2018, we checked out electrification within the automotive trade. It was new, progressive and we beloved it. It’s a unique world. We discovered ourselves in a gray market in Singapore, bringing over Tesla automobiles earlier than the model was out there right here. Tesla doesn’t appoint sellers, so we leased and bought them.
Tesla was the primary mass-produced electrical automotive model out there available on the market, so we shortly realized in regards to the electrification system. As there have been a small variety of electrical passenger automobiles, we began electrical business automobiles.
Once you calculate the CO2 and cash saved by utilizing electrical energy as an alternative of petrol and contemplate the use, upkeep and life cycle of highway automobiles, the primary environmental and monetary saving is by electrifying business vans, lorries and vehicles as a result of they’re used a lot, so usually. Upkeep prices of electrical automobiles are additionally decrease.
Electrifying automobiles is a incredible answer, so we need to champion the thought and have an effect on change. Our portfolio consists of DFSK, SRM and Farizon, and we’re sourcing extra manufacturers. Singapore’s electrical energy runs predominantly from pure gases. We don’t burn coal for our vitality, so it’s loads cleaner.
We’re working with electrical automobiles, vans, faculty buses, small and huge buses and lorries. We are able to provide an SRM T3EV electrical lorry with a spread of 300km, electrical vans for work, an electrical 19-seat bus or an electrical tour bus that may deliver employees, crew, and employees and transport them anyplace inside Singapore.
We additionally introduced in a passenger bus that was on trial with the federal government, who’re looking for tenders for electrified public buses, so we hope they like our proposals. We’ve labored with the producers to stick to the federal government’s requirements and specs for each the buses and charging amenities.
We’re absolutely behind the federal government’s drive for extra charging stations. I believe Singapore’s goal for the tip of this yr is 12,000 electrical charging stations and this quantity will continue to grow. Singapore’s
Inexperienced Plan is for half of highway automobiles to be electrified by 2030.
In truth, if we electrify all highway automobiles in Singapore, it’s going to assist obtain 14 % of the federal government’s total goal for decarbonisation and CO2 reductions.
Singapore can do it as a result of we’re in a managed surroundings and it’s a small island with a restricted space to drive in. It’s an ideal nation to implement electrical automobiles.
Hong Seh’s automotive enterprise additionally has a physique store and paint store, the place we will work on aluminum and metal. For automobiles, we moved into water-based paints to be extra eco-friendly. I consider we have been among the many first in Singapore to make use of PPG’s pure water-based paints in our paint store, for after-sales. That’s the automotive aspect of Hong Seh. We find it irresistible and we’re shifting ahead.
Hong Seh in Yachting
Throughout our time working with Ferrari, we had the chance to work with Riva [Yacht] within the late Nineteen Nineties. We thought of it, as we love the water and the Italian life-style. We regularly took purchasers to Europe for the meals, wine and automotive expertise.
Riva added one other luxurious providing, so we gave it a shot and by no means regarded again, organising Hong Seh Marine in 2008 (Hong Seh Yachting was created in 2022 to give attention to Ferretti Group manufacturers). From coping with one or two small boats a yr, we’re now coping with all sizes of yachts, even above 80m.
We love the yachting trade in Singapore. Nonetheless, I consider yachting remains to be very younger in Asia, particularly in Singapore, as a result of it’s not a giant focus. Singapore, a bit island surrounded by water, doesn’t utilise it as a lot as we should always. We use it as a port greater than the rest.
We’ve acquired incredible islands and areas on this space. On [Peninsular] Malaysia’s east coast, we’ve acquired Tioman and Redang, the place I like to go as a result of the waters are wonderful.
In Singapore, we have now St John’s and Lazarus Islands, which the federal government is encouraging use of and creating properly. I consider the federal government will do extra to encourage using water. There’s additionally Pulau Hantu to the west and I prefer to go close to the Raffles Lighthouse on Pulau Satumu for a bit little bit of quiet fishing, which has been incredible since Covid. It’s a unique life-style, a unique feeling there.
After beginning with Riva, we additionally started representing different Ferretti Group manufacturers together with Ferretti Yachts and Pershing, whereas we’ve additionally been promoting Wally and Customized Line fashions in more moderen years. Ferretti Group is incredible, the standard and repair is nice and I believe it’s the one model that has a giant workplace in Asia to help sellers.
As well as, they invite purchasers to the annual Ferretti Group Personal Preview, a consumer-centric occasion in Monaco held in early September forward of the Cannes Yachting Pageant. Shoppers can see the complete vary of yachts in an excellent location and revel in spectacular events.
Yachting is a incredible life-style to get pleasure from and develop. It’s a great way for family and friends to have the ability to dwell, work, play and have enjoyable collectively. It brings folks nearer.
In regular life, folks have a cellphone in entrance of their face however once you’re on a ship you set it down and absorb who and what’s round you. Even higher, cruise to a spot with no reception. Individuals don’t speak as a lot as prior to now and yachting is a good way to reconnect with one another.
Eco-friendly Cruising
Singapore may very well be an excellent take a look at mattress for electrical boats as a lot of the marinas are just some miles from the primary cruising spots. We hope the yacht producers study from the automotive aspect and battery producers regularly cut back the costs of the methods.
Singapore’s MPA (Maritime & Port Authority) has already launched into a programme to impress its fleet of service vessels, and has chosen companions to develop, function and keep charging factors for electrical harbour craft (e- HC), together with at Marina South Pier, throughout a two-year pilot scheme that started in March.
I do know ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove is seeking to go ‘blue’ and can help any electrical initiatives. It’s price noting that from 2030, all new harbour craft working within the Port of Singapore should be absolutely electrical, be able to utilizing B100 biofuel, or be appropriate with net-zero fuels reminiscent of hydrogen.
Among the many manufacturers we signify, Riva lately debuted the manufacturing model of its first all-electric boat, the El-Iseo, and the Ferretti Group can be creating hybrid fashions and eco-friendly expertise. The Ferretti Yachts Infynito 90 has photo voltaic panels on the roof that may energy the electrical batteries to function the lodge load. It means that you can be carbon-zero at anchor.
We additionally signify Sunreef crusing and energy catamarans which have an Eco vary, with ‘photo voltaic pores and skin’, electrical batteries, hydrogeneration and different fuel-saving, energy-light methods. There’s a generator for emergencies, however in any other case there’s no sound, no air pollution. It’s a slower life however higher for the surroundings. Within the final eco-challenge, a Sunreef Eco crusing cat is the best way to do it.
We have to depart earth in the identical situation or higher than it’s now. We have to protect the planet for so long as we will. Having spoken to folks inside Elon Musk’s corporations, it looks like that is one in every of his motivations.
edwardtan@hongseh.com.sg
www.hongsehmarine.com.sg
This text was first seen on YachtStyle.co.
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