Toa Payoh and Novena sit barely 2 kilometres apart, yet they tell completely different stories about EV charging in Singapore. Toa Payoh — one of the nation's oldest HDB new towns — now hosts something genuinely pioneering: the first public fast-charging hub in an HDB estate. Novena, by contrast, is a medical and commercial district where charging infrastructure has grown organically around hospitals, offices, and shopping malls. Together, they illustrate how Singapore's charging network is evolving to serve very different user needs. Here's what you need to know before plugging in.

Toa Payoh HDB Hub: The First of Its Kind

The headline here is significant. Toa Payoh HDB Hub (530 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh) became home to Singapore's first public fast-charging hub in an HDB town when Shell Recharge launched operations in January 2024. This wasn't just another charger installation — it was a prototype for what every HDB town in Singapore will have by the end of 2027.

The hardware configuration matters:

• 2 × 120kW DC fast chargers (dual-gun, so four vehicles can charge simultaneously)
• 2 × 22kW AC chargers

The 120kW DC units are the real story. For context, most public DC chargers in HDB estates before this were 50kW or below. The jump to 120kW means a typical EV can add 100km of range in roughly 15–20 minutes — fast enough that taxi and private-hire drivers can top up between fares without significant downtime.

Shell Recharge pricing at this location typically runs around $0.65–$0.72/kWh for DC and $0.55–$0.60/kWh for AC, though rates fluctuate with market conditions. That's competitive for fast DC in a high-traffic location, though not the cheapest you'll find islandwide.

What makes this hub genuinely useful is the operational model. Unlike mall-based chargers that can be blocked by ICE vehicles or occupied for hours, the HDB Hub chargers are positioned for turnover. The location also benefits from being a genuine transport node — bus interchange, MRT connection, and retail all within walking distance. You can charge, grab a meal at the food court, and be back before your session completes.

For a live cross-island rate comparison, the Singapore EV Charging Price Index tracks median rates across all operators every week. The revolt.sg/chargers map lets you browse pricing, filter by speed, and find the best-value option near any location.

The Rest of Toa Payoh: Functional but Fragmented

Outside the HDB Hub, Toa Payoh's charging landscape is typical of mature estates — scattered AC chargers with occasional DC outliers, operated by the usual network players.

Storhub Toa Payoh (743 Lorong 5 Toa Payoh) offers a Charge+ DC 120kW unit alongside AC options. This is a solid secondary option if the HDB Hub is at capacity, though it's primarily a self-storage facility — you'll need a reason to be there beyond charging. The 120kW hardware is capable, and Charge+ rates typically run around $0.73/kWh for DC and $0.63/kWh for AC.

Charge+ also operates at 615 Lorong 4 Toa Payoh, with a mix of 22kW and 7.4kW AC chargers. This is residential-grade hardware — fine for overnight topping up if you live nearby, but not a destination charging stop.

SP Mobility has broader coverage across the estate, with chargers at multiple HDB carparks including 171A Lorong 1 Toa Payoh and 177 Toa Payoh Central. Their AC chargers typically run around $0.52/kWh — among the cheaper AC rates you'll find — while DC options (where available) trend toward $0.75–$0.82/kWh. SP Mobility also implements idle fees of $0.50/minute after a 30-minute grace period, so set a timer if you're using their DC units.

The practical reality for Toa Payoh residents is this: the HDB Hub handles your fast-charging needs, while the scattered AC network covers overnight residential charging. It's a workable ecosystem, though the gap between "fast DC at the hub" and "slow AC everywhere else" is noticeable.

Novena: Medical Hub, Surprising Charging Value

Cross Thomson Road into Novena and the character changes completely. This is Singapore's medical district — Tan Tock Seng Hospital, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Mount Elizabeth Novena, and a cluster of specialist centres. It's also become a surprisingly competent area for EV charging, driven by the needs of healthcare workers, patients, and visitors who may be parked for extended periods.

Royal Square at Novena (103 Irrawaddy Road) is the standout location. Charge+ operates DC 120kW and AC 22kW chargers on Level 4 — capable hardware in a building that serves both medical offices and retail. The location is particularly useful for anyone visiting the adjacent Tan Tock Seng Hospital or the medical suites in Royal Square itself. Charge+ rates apply (approximately $0.73/kWh DC, $0.63/kWh AC).

Velocity @ Novena Square (238 Thomson Road) offers SP Mobility DC 100kW and AC 22kW on Carpark Deck 4A. This is a shared-DC configuration — if two vehicles are plugged in, the 100kW splits between them. SP Mobility's variable pricing applies here, typically $0.65–$0.74/kWh for DC depending on location and time. The Velocity location is convenient for the mall's retail and F&B, though the shared DC architecture means potentially slower charging during peak periods.

What's notable about Novena is the pricing relative to the area's affluence. You might expect a medical district with premium office towers to carry premium charging rates. In practice, Novena's chargers are priced in line with — or slightly below — comparable commercial locations elsewhere in Singapore. The competition between operators (Charge+ at Royal Square, SP Mobility at Velocity) appears to keep pricing honest.

Hospital Charging: The Next Frontier

A significant development is coming to Novena's healthcare cluster. KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), as part of the SingHealth cluster, is slated to receive EV charging infrastructure as part of a broader rollout. SingHealth plans to install up to 300 EV charging points across its facilities by 2028, with KKH specifically identified for deployment including fast chargers.

This matters because hospital charging serves a unique use case: patients and visitors who may be on-site for several hours. A 50kW DC charger is perfectly adequate if you're parked for a half-day appointment. The convenience of charging while receiving care — or while supporting a family member — is significant.

As of April 2026, specific KKH charger locations and pricing are still under development. For now, Royal Square and Velocity remain the practical options for anyone needing to charge near KKH or Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

The Toa Payoh vs Novena Dynamic

These two neighbourhoods illustrate a broader pattern in Singapore's EV infrastructure development.

Toa Payoh represents the planned, top-down approach: government-identified need (fast charging in HDB towns), designated operator (Shell Recharge for the pilot hub), and infrastructure designed for high turnover. The HDB Hub is efficient but impersonal — you're there to charge, not to linger.

Novena represents organic, market-driven growth: operators identifying demand from healthcare workers and visitors, installing hardware where the parking economics work. The charging experience is more fragmented — two different operators, two different malls, two different pricing structures — but also more integrated into the fabric of daily activity.

For EV owners, the practical implication is clear: Toa Payoh for fast charging, Novena for convenience charging while you're already there. The 2km distance between them means you're never far from an alternative if your first choice is occupied.

Practical Tips

At Toa Payoh HDB Hub:

• The 120kW DC bays are the main attraction — expect 15–20 minutes for a meaningful top-up
• Peak periods (lunch, early evening) can see queues — have a backup plan at Storhub or wait for off-peak
• The food court and retail options make this a viable "charge while you eat" stop even if you're not a Toa Payoh resident
• AC charging here only makes sense if you're parked for several hours anyway

In Toa Payoh generally:

• SP Mobility's AC chargers at HDB carparks are cost-effective for overnight charging — around $0.52/kWh
• Their DC rates are less competitive — factor in idle fees if you use them
• Storhub's Charge+ DC 120kW is your backup if the HDB Hub is full

In Novena:

• Royal Square's Charge+ DC 120kW is the premium option — best hardware, direct access to medical facilities
• Velocity's SP Mobility DC 100kW is shared — charging speed drops if both bays are occupied
• Both locations work well for extended stays (medical appointments, shopping) where AC charging may be perfectly adequate
• Watch for the SingHealth/KKH charging rollout — this could add significant capacity by 2027–2028

The Verdict

Toa Payoh and Novena together offer one of Singapore's more competent EV charging corridors. The Toa Payoh HDB Hub is genuinely pioneering — a proof-of-concept that fast charging can work in public housing estates, with implications for the entire national rollout. Novena's medical district charging is less headline-grabbing but arguably more useful day-to-day, with well-placed hardware serving real user needs.

The pricing story is mixed. Toa Payoh HDB Hub's Shell Recharge rates are fair for the speed on offer. Novena's operators charge commercial rates that aren't bargains but aren't exploitative either. The real value in both neighbourhoods is convenience: chargers where you actually need them, not where an algorithm says they should go.

For residents of either area, the infrastructure is now mature enough that EV ownership is genuinely practical. For visitors, both neighbourhoods offer reliable fast-charging options that won't leave you stranded. And for anyone watching Singapore's EV transition, these two districts show how different approaches — planned hubs versus organic growth — can coexist and complement each other.

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For current pricing across all Singapore EV chargers, see the Singapore EV Charging Price Index — updated weekly. Browse all charging locations on the revolt.sg charger map.