BlueSG Pauses All Operations for System Upgrade, leaving Users Scrambling for Alternatives
SINGAPORE – BlueSG, Singapore’s electric car-sharing service, has announced a complete suspension of operations to facilitate a major system upgrade. The unexpected pause, effective promptly, has left users expressing frustration and uncertainty, forcing many to reconsider their transportation plans.
The move follows a series of disruptions in 2023, including meaningful glitches in December that resulted in inaccurate charges and difficulties locating reserved vehicles and parking. While BlueSG offered a waiver of January subscription fees as compensation, users at the time deemed the gesture insufficient.
The current pause is intended to address underlying issues and implement a new platform, but the complete shutdown – rather than a phased rollout – has raised eyebrows. Users are questioning the necessity of halting all services during the transition.
“This is the second or third time that they have upgraded the system, and much scrutiny was on them during the most recent upgrade,” noted 33-year-old educator Joel Tan, who uses the service four times a week with a S$8 monthly basic membership. He expressed surprise, stating he thought BlueSG was “doing fine” but acknowledged the fleet was showing signs of age, with cars “prone to wear and tear.”
The impact of the suspension varies among users. P Ong, a 24-year-old student utilizing BlueSG’s free membership, indicated the pause wouldn’t significantly affect him as he also employs other car-sharing options. He previously relied on BlueSG during peak hours to avoid surge pricing from ride-hailing services,but found locating vehicles and parking near his destination frequently enough inconvenient,requiring considerable walking.
For others,the disruption is more considerable. Jeremy, a 30-year-old manager, stated the closure will impact his weekly routine and is even considering the significant financial commitment of purchasing a car. He remains confident in the system’s overall reliability and isn’t overly concerned about refunds or billing, but will closely monitor the transition process.
Social media platforms like Reddit reflect similar sentiments. One user lamented BlueSG being their primary commute method due to the elimination of parking and petrol costs. Another expressed skepticism about the length of the pause for a “platform upgrade,” labeling the situation “fishy.”
BlueSG’s former CEO, Kelvin Tay, attributed the 2023 glitches to “unexpected technical complexities” following systems migration updates. The company has not yet provided a timeline for the completion of the upgrade and resumption of services.
Understanding BlueSG and the Car-Sharing Landscape in Singapore:
Launched in 2017, BlueSG aimed to promote lasting transportation in Singapore by offering a network of electric vehicles available for short-term rental. The service operates on a point-to-point rental model,requiring users to return vehicles to designated BlueSG stations.
Singapore’s car-sharing market includes several players, including Tribecar and getgo, offering a range of vehicle types and rental options.The popularity of these services is driven by the high cost of car ownership in Singapore, which includes Certificate of entitlement (COE) fees, road taxes, insurance, and parking charges.The temporary closure of BlueSG highlights the challenges inherent in maintaining and upgrading complex technology-driven services, and underscores the importance of robust systems and transparent dialog with users. The outcome of this upgrade will be crucial in determining BlueSG’s future role in Singapore’s evolving transportation ecosystem.
