TNB, MARii in strategic partnership to develop EV ecosystem

Tenaga Nasional Bhd president/chief executive officer Datuk Baharin Din

KUALA LUMPUR: Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) and the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IOT Institute (MARii) have entered into a strategic partnership to create a platform to address comprehensively the challenges related to electric vehicle (EV) usage in line with the nation’s energy transition.

The collaboration is for the development of the EV ecosystem, enabling the implementation of Mobility as a Service (MAAS) and related initiatives in the Malaysian automotive market.

The signing of the memorandum of understanding between the two parties today was to enable TNB to participate in the setting up of the EV Interoperability Centre (EVIC) in Cyberjaya, including in the distribution of power and grid networks, to establish guidelines for the expansion of EV usage nationwide.

TNB president and chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Ir Baharin Din said in an effort to move towards low carbon mobility in line with the nation’s energy transition, TNB had taken concrete steps to explore the field of electric mobility focusing on green energy, including the EV infrastructure provision.

"All these efforts have the potential to increase the impact of environmentally friendly development and global well-being with priority on the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) level which has been TNB’s agenda,” he said in a statement.

Baharin said the collaboration was another testament to TNB’s commitment to the government’s initiative towards reducing greenhouse gas emission by up to 45 per cent by 2030.

It also represented part of TNB’s Sustainability Pathway to net-zero carbon emissions in 2050.

"This effort will not only boost investors’ confidence in the commitment on ESG and initiatives to address climate change but will also provide the potential for strategic business expansion beyond kWh,” he said.

Meanwhile, MARii CEO Datuk Mohamad Madani Sahari said MARii and the International Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) would set up EVIC where energy generation and storage technology would be an important feature in expanding the research and development infrastructure for EV producers and suppliers of critical components under EVIC.

It was reported that EVIC would be a shared test centre for the development of EVs and EV-related products and systems.

The MoU also focuses on the implementation of the Langkawi EV Hub Pilot Project which supports the targeted Langkawi Low Carbon Island 2030 vision. This will be through, among others, potentially introducing affordable EVs with the cooperation of banking institutions, suppliers, manufacturers and distributors of vehicles as well as public transport, taxi and e-hailing operators.

Madani also said the strategic collaboration was important and based on MARii's expertise in the development of smart systems for automotive humanisation and utilisation and the use of the latest digital hardware and technology applications, in line with the National Automotive Policy 2020 led by MITI.

In ensuring the success of the collaboration, MARii will provide access to data, analyses, reports and research in addition to leading the development of the Internet of Things (IoT), telematics, MAAS and EVIC in Cyberjaya. - Bernama