Me and My Car: Alumni Officer’s First EV Is a Purple DongFeng Box

Published: Aug 22, 2025 | Updated: Aug 23, 2025 SINGAPORE – Until early 2025, Mr Andrew Tam had never owned an electric vehicle (EV) – or a car in any colour other than white. But that changed in January, when the assistant director at the Singapore Institute of Technology’s (SIT) alumni office bought his first EV – a purple Dongfeng Box. The 58-year-old was downsizing from a Volkswagen Touran multi-purpose vehicle that he owned for eight years. He initially looked at petrol-powered cars, but was drawn to the technology features of EVs and how quiet they are on the move.

He stumbled upon the Box at a road show at Singapore Expo. He had looked at other EVs, including models from BYD, Tesla and Ora, but the chic hatchback stood out. “It was something unique. The price was reasonable and it ticked most of the boxes we were looking for,” says Mr Tam, who is married to retired personal assistant Adeline Misson, 58. He added that he was won over by the car’s technological features, quiet and smooth drive, spacious interior, and overall look and feel. He paid just over $130,000, including certificate of entitlement (COE), before the trade-in price of the Touran. While Ms Misson was also fond of the car, the couple, who do not have children, could not agree on the colour. “I wanted white, but Adeline preferred purple,” Mr Tam says with a laugh. “So, we tossed a coin. And, yes, I lost.” But it turned out to be a win. “The purple came with a matching interior, which looked great. Plus, my wife is a BTS fan and purple is their group colour. So, it was meant to be,” he says, referring to the K-pop mega-band. The Box was delivered in February, and Mr Tam and his wife nicknamed it “Ocean 5”. “We love the sea, and we call our cars Ocean,” he says. The couple have a custom-made bear also called Ocean 5, which they keep in the car.

The Box is the fifth car they have owned since getting married in 1996. Before this, their previous cars were the Toyota Starlet, Honda Jazz, Volkswagen Golf and, most recently, the Volkswagen Touran. “Each one holds memories,” he says. “My wife and I have never been fans of standard sedans. We like compact, hatchback-style cars.” Six months in, Mr Tam has clocked around 4,000 km in the Box, using it mostly for commuting between his home in Sengkang and his workplace in Punggol. He also uses it for running errands and weekend outings. His wife does not drive. He has yet to take it to Malaysia, but hopes to do so. Despite it being a new brand and model in Singapore, Mr Tam had no hesitation buying the car. “I believe that with EVs, it all comes down to the battery, which is essentially the engine of the car. Chinese brands seem to have an edge here, maybe with the exception of Tesla, but Tesla’s pricing is in a different league.” He has been more than happy with the switch. “The drive is smooth and incredibly quiet. The car may look compact, but it’s surprisingly spacious inside.” And that distinctive purple finish gets noticed. “When we got it, there weren’t many Box cars on the road. With that unique colour, we definitely got a few stares,” he says. “My colleagues loved it. My boss even joked about the car during a speech, saying both the car and I stood out.” Charging has also been straightforward. “I usually plug in when the battery drops to around 20 per cent, about every one to 1½ weeks. I charge up to 80 per cent most of the time and do 100 per cent only once a month,” Mr Tam says. “Even though the battery has a 10-year warranty, I like to take good care of it.” Experts advise that capping battery charge at 80 per cent for daily use and occasionally charging the battery up to 100 per cent is good for its health. He uses public chargers at his HDB multi-storey carpark in Sengkang and at the SIT Punggol campus. “I’m fortunate to have 16 charging stations at work and there are usually plenty of available lots.” He has even started a small community of Box owners. “I thought it’d be nice to start a Telegram group to share experiences. It grew slowly and now we’ve got 61 members,” he says. “We exchange tips, show off upgrades and wave when we see one another on the road. We’ve even had two meet-ups. It’s a supportive, down-to-earth community with owners from all walks of life.” Would he call himself a car enthusiast? “I wouldn’t say I know a lot about cars. But that’s part of the fun. I enjoy reading and hearing about them. I usually focus on understanding the car I own and look at new models only when it’s time for a change.” He expects to keep the Box for another five to seven years. “It depends on our lifestyle and when I retire,” he says. “My wife retired over five years ago.” But there is a sense of finality too. “We felt we should experience owning an EV at least once in our lives. This might also be the last car we own. Age is catching up and, with COE premiums rising, cars are becoming less affordable.”

What’s in the boot

• Umbrella
• Lunch box

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Source: The Straits Times