In areas where satellite coverage could be weak (including tunnels and beneath viaducts), it is anticipated that signal beacons will be put in place.
Though some say the new system will mean personal cars become less about freedom and more like a "private taxi", Singapore has long been ahead of the world in road user charging.
In 1998 - when Auckland was suffering from a five-week power outage in the CBD caused by multiple power cables failing - Singapore was rolling out what was then the most sophisticated urban congestion charging system on the planet.
This gantry-based electronic road-pricing system targets roads that are heavily congested, and mostly operate at peak times, applying prices to achieve a minimum "level of service".
Though some privacy concerns have been raised around the level of surveillance that comes with tracking all road users, there are similar issues with other forms of modern transport.
Public transit cards and Uber involve various levels of tracking, but are becoming increasingly accepted as the price you pay for simpler travel and increased technology.
Lessons for Auckland
Peter Neilson, Project Director for Auckland Smarter Transport Pricing says Singapore was one of the cities looked at in an international review as part of the joint Council-Government project established to explore whether congestion pricing is right for Auckland.
"Lessons of that review and other project updates will be included in the Phase 1 report, which is on track to be completed by the end of the year," he says.
Stephen Selwood, chief executive Infrastructure New Zealand supports satellite pricing, but prefers a variable motorway charge as an interim step, that could adjust prices up and down to maximise traffic flows on the network.
"I have absolutely no doubt that we will need to introduce satellite-based road pricing in New Zealand in the future," he says.
"As congestion gets worse and worse and electric cars increasingly make up the vehicle fleet we will need pricing to both manage our network more effectively and replace petrol tax with user charges.
"But it's going to take time to build public confidence and demonstrate the benefits that pricing will bring. It'll be hard for NZ to go from zero to hero overnight. That's why we favour a variable motorway charge as an interim step.
"People can choose whether they want to pay to enjoy a faster trip, catch a motorway express bus service, car share, or continue to use the free local road network, take public transport or walk or cycle. We can then move to full blown satellite pricing when there is sufficient public confidence to support it."
A push for alternative transport
Despite Singapore moving towards a sophisticated and expensive road pricing system, car ownership is low by global standards. This is largely due to the hefty price of a certificate of entitlement - S$36,000 (NZ$36,790) for cars up to 1600cc - which allows the certificate holder to register, own and use a vehicle in Singapore for a period of 10 years.
When you consider 12 per cent of the small country's land area is consumed by roads, it is unsurprising that Singapore's Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Khaw Boon Wan, has set a target for 75 per cent of trips to take place by public transport by 2030, and 85 per cent by 2050.
Singapore is also significantly boosting its bus fleet, rail network, cycling paths, and the distance of its covered walkways.
Driverless cars are tipped to be a further game-changer. Singapore's well-maintained roads and contained geography make it an ideal location for autonomous vehicles, expected to offer greater fuel efficiency, reduced road congestion and carbon emissions, and a significant reduction in accidents.
Last year US autonomous vehicle R&D firm nuTonomy ran a limited public trial for the world's first driverless taxis in Singapore.
Despite one of nuTonomy's self-driving cars hitting a truck, the trial was considered a success.
The company noted the accident was due to "an extremely rare combination of software anomalies," and intends to launch a commercial service in Singapore in the next year.
It is therefore not unthinkable that at some point, mass use of driverless cars and public transport could remove the need for congestion charging altogether.
