Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) confirmed that external battery packs for Tesla vehicles meet international safety standards, responding to concerns raised by the Tesla Owners Club Singapore regarding the mandatory installation of on-board units (OBUs) for the nation’s next-generation Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system.
The Tesla Owners Club Singapore had written to the LTA in early February, expressing apprehension about the safety of installing external lithium battery systems to power the OBUs. Their letter specifically highlighted the lack of “visible active cooling or thermal management subsystem” in the proposed setup, and the potential fire hazard associated with continuously charged lithium batteries within the vehicle cabin, according to reporting by The Straits Times.
The LTA clarified that the external battery device adheres to international safety standards for electronic devices and does not operate through continuous charging. The need for external power sources arises since Tesla vehicles, unlike most other cars on the road, do not provide a constant power supply necessary for the reliable operation of the OBUs. The recent ERP system, which will rely on the OBUs, is slated to be fully implemented by January 1, 2027.
Currently, Tesla vehicles delivered with pre-fitted OBUs since December 2, 2024, are equipped with the iRoad Powerpack Pro 12, manufactured by a South Korean company specializing in in-car cameras. However, for older Tesla models requiring retrofitting starting in January 2026, a customized external battery device developed by Singaporean engineering firm Hope Technik will be used. This customized unit utilizes lithium iron phosphate battery cells, a technology also employed by other major electric vehicle manufacturers, the LTA stated.
Installation of the OBU and associated battery system for Tesla vehicles will be carried out by Indeco Engineers at no cost to owners, provided the installation is completed within three months of receiving a final reminder from the LTA. These reminders will be issued beginning in February 2026 to owners who have not yet had the devices installed.
The LTA emphasized that both the OBU and the customized battery device undergo rigorous testing against International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards – IEC-60068 and IEC-60529 – to ensure resilience against environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, vibration, shock, dust, and water. These standards are widely recognized for assessing the operational reliability of electronic equipment.
As of the end of 2025, approximately 4,200 Tesla cars in Singapore have been fitted with the iRoad model, while 380 have received the customized unit. There are currently 8,635 Teslas registered in Singapore, representing a portion of the overall vehicle population where approximately 930,000 vehicles, or 93 percent, have been equipped with OBUs.
