THE transport sector continues to be a major source of greenhouse gas emissions in Malaysia, largely due to the dominance of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
In response, the government is accelerating electric vehicle (EV) adoption under its green mobility agenda, with frameworks outlined in the Low Carbon Mobility Blueprint (LCMB) and the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR).
Under these plans, EVs are targeted to make up 15% of total industry volume (TIV) by 2030 and 80% by 2050.
Against this backdrop, EV adoption has shown steady momentum. According to data by the Road Transport Department (JPJ), a total of 4,717 EVs were registered last month, a 29.8% increase from February 2026.
Last year also saw a spike in registrations as buyers rushed to take advantage of the tax holiday on import duty, excise duty and road tax for fully imported EVs, which ended in December. Registrations peaked at 8,123 units that month, up nearly 50% from 5,417 in the previous month.
The uptick in EV adoption can be attributed to a range of factors, including potential fuel cost savings, environmental concerns, supportive policy measures and a more diversified EV offering.
“In the context of fuel price volatility, we are seeing more consumers considering EVs as a viable alternative, particularly when making new vehicle purchase decisions,” said Malaysia Zero Emission Vehicle Association (MyZeva) president Mohd Razif Abdul Halim.
Taylor’s University School of Engineering lecturer Dr Tee Wei Hown added that while the upfront costs of EVs remain relatively high, it is no longer the most dominant barrier to EV adoption.
“Malaysia is moving from a pure price barrier into a combined affordability and convenience barrier. This is also why current local models matter so much: Proton’s e.MAS 7 is now officially listed around RM100,000, which is psychologically and commercially important because it starts to move EV discussion closer to the mainstream market rather than the premium segment alone.
“As more models enter the market and prices gradually improve, the barrier is shifting from purely cost to what I would describe as a confidence in usability.”
In 2025, about 44,800 EVs have been registered; while this reflects strong growth, it is still a long way from achieving national targets, Tee pointed out.
“EVs still make up only around 4% to 5% of total vehicle sales, which is still quite far from the 15% EV adoption target set for 2030.
“While the direction is positive, the pace needs to pick up over the next few years. Much will depend on how quickly the charging infrastructure expands, how ready the grid is, and whether policies continue to support adoption,” he said, adding that the next five years will also be crucial in determining whether the 80% target remains achievable.
In order to further accelerate EV adoption, attention must shift toward building a robust ecosystem to support this expansion, including expanding charging infrastructure, technician skills development, and broader reach beyond urban areas.
“Malaysia now needs to move from early adoption to ecosystem scaling. The priority is no longer just promoting EVs but making them practical nationwide.
“That means accelerating charger deployment, especially outside the Klang Valley, improving grid readiness with TNB and giving the market policy certainty beyond short-term incentives,” he said.
Addressing the charging infrastructure gap
The biggest gap that needs to be addressed is the insufficient rollout of charging infrastructure nationwide.
The Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry stated that a total of 5,624 public EV charging units have been deployed nationwide as of Feb 2026, which accounts for 56% of the overall 10,000-unit target set by the government under the LCMB.
This leaves the total charger-to-EV ratio at about 1:15, according to Chargehere EV Solution Sdn Bhd head of business development Bruce Sui.
As EV adoption continues to surge, the charging gap must be addressed to ensure consumers’ needs are adequately met.
He said that the biggest barriers to EV charger deployment are high costs, regulatory hurdles, grid constraints and unclear policy from the government.
He noted that to scale charging and battery infrastructure sustainably in Malaysia requires accelerated deployment, policy support, grid integration and private-sector incentives.
“Without these measures, range anxiety and slow adoption will persist despite strong EV sales growth,” he added.
To further enhance public charging convenience, a unified and interoperable platform is needed to allow users to locate, activate and pay for charging across different networks without having to rely on multiple apps nationwide.
Initiatives such as the National e-Mobility Service Platform (EMSP), a unified system for charging access and payment led by the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii), are a step in the right direction.
There is also a pressing need to establish frameworks to protect an EV user’s right to charge, especially for high-rise residents.
Tee said that since many urban Malaysians live in strata housing, widespread private charger installation is not a realistic solution.
“The answer is not to expect every resident to install a private charger. Instead, Malaysia needs clearer strata guidelines, common-property charging frameworks and incentives for shared charging bays in condominiums and apartments.
“New developments should be made EV-ready by default, while older buildings should be supported through retrofitting incentives and standardised approval pathways. Without solving this issue, EV ownership will remain easier for landed-property households than for the wider urban middle class,” Tee said.
Innovations in battery and charging infrastructure could also pave the way for a more EV-friendly environment in Malaysia.
Solid-state batteries (SSBs), EV batteries made without liquid electrolytes, are being studied to be used in place of a liquid-based lithium-ion battery. It operates by generating a flow of ions through a solid electrolyte between two electrodes.
It offers higher energy density, faster charging, longer ranges, better safety and slower degradation.
Wireless charging could also be an option to be implemented in the future, allowing for dynamic (charging while driving) or static (charging while parked) charging options.
However, these technologies remain in their infancy and have yet to reach a truly commercial scale.
“Both technologies would reshape the ecosystem by boosting adoption, especially in rural areas, and reducing infrastructure pressure, but Malaysia must invest in research and development now to avoid import dependency,” Sui said.
Reaching underserved areas
Another pressing aspect of EV development is extending charging access beyond urban centres and highway corridors.
Tee noted that Malaysia cannot depend only on urban areas for the green mobility transition and that charging infrastructure must also be more evenly distributed beyond cities and along highways to ensure broader accessibility.
“For underserved regions, Malaysia should prioritise corridor charging, destination charging in towns and integration with distributed energy solutions such as solar-based charging or microgrid-supported charging where grid constraints are more pronounced.
“Otherwise, EV adoption in Malaysia will remain uneven and concentrated in urban areas. Without reliable charging corridors, EV adoption in these regions will remain limited despite national-level incentives,” he said.
Due to the limitations in charging infrastructure across the country, many Malaysians may still hesitate to use EVs for long-distance travel, particularly during festive periods when travel demand is high.
Tee added that while EVs are generally seen as suitable for daily urban commuting, concerns around charger availability, waiting times and route planning during peak seasons continue to shape consumer confidence.
“This reflects Malaysia’s current stage of transition, where EV adoption is no longer limited by awareness or early adopters, but by whether the ecosystem can support mass, everyday use,” he said.
One way to address this challenge is through targeted tax incentives for rural areas, stronger integration with existing infrastructure and clear government policy mandates to guide rollout.
A remaining challenge is low demand in certain areas, particularly suburban and rural regions, which discourages investment from charging point operators (CPOs), thus creating a cycle where limited infrastructure further suppresses demand, as Sui added.
“As a result, the ecosystem enters a chicken-and-egg situation: without stronger EV demand, infrastructure cannot expand fast enough and without infrastructure confidence, the EV transition also slows down,” Sui said.
He said that stronger data-driven planning is needed to guide rollout by prioritising expansion of well-utilised charging sites rather than scattered deployment.
He also stressed the importance of clear government EV transition mandates that target segments such as public transport, commercial fleets and e-hailing services, as they have the highest utilisation potential.
Upskilling talent
One of the persistent gaps in the EV ecosystem is the limited availability of skilled technicians.
Government organisations such as Malaysian Investment Development Authority are actively investing in a talent pipeline to address this skills gap by fostering industry and university collaboration.
Despite this, EV-specific training programmes are still inadequate as there are not enough pathways towards creating an EV-ready workforce.
“We see a need for more structured programmes, certifications and closer collaboration with industry to make these pathways more accessible and relevant,” said ESnet Academy Sdn Bhd director Ray Yeong Keng Soon.
Industry experts highlight the need for capabilities in key areas to support continued growth, including renewable energy integration, software development for smart vehicles and sustainable manufacturing practices.
“EV technology is very different from conventional vehicles, especially in terms of battery systems and safety. If we don’t build the right skills early, it will be difficult for the industry to support large-scale adoption,” he said.
These competencies are essential to optimise EV infrastructure and strengthen the green mobility ecosystem.
With the rise in demand for EV technicians, students training in automotive studies must develop specialised skills to keep pace with the evolving industry.
“Students need to build a strong foundation in high-voltage safety, battery systems and diagnostics. At the same time, they must be comfortable with digital tools, as EVs rely heavily on software and system monitoring. Both technical and digital skills are important,” he said.
In smaller workshops, which would be more accessible to the average driver, the transition to EV servicing remains uneven, with a noticeable gap emerging particularly in software handling.
“At this stage, many smaller workshops are still in the early phase of transitioning. The challenge is not just tools, but also training and confidence in handling EV systems safely. With proper upskilling programmes and support, this gap can be gradually reduced,” he said.
Yeong added that the most important step is to immediately begin building a strong, industry-aligned talent pipeline by updating training content, investing in facilities and strengthening collaboration between education providers and industry.
Climate resilience
Many experts say that awareness of how EV safety works in the context of climate resilience remains low, continuing to create a perception barrier to wider adoption.
In this regard, what matters most is clear: consistent information and effective communication to improve public understanding and confidence in EVs.
At this stage, the priority moving forward should be on strengthening education and awareness rather than introducing new policies, stated Mohd Razif.
“There is a need to strengthen public awareness around key messages that EV is safe, economical and easy to build greater confidence and understanding among consumers,” he said.
However, some EV safety concerns are valid. Studies show that heat can speed up lithium battery degradation, which may be a challenge in Malaysia’s hot climate.
While heat matters, Tee noted, it should not be overstated.
“In Malaysia’s tropical climate, sustained high temperatures can accelerate battery ageing and make thermal management more important, but modern EVs already come with battery management and cooling systems, so the issue is manageable rather than prohibitive.
“In practice, good thermal design, careful charging habits, shaded parking where possible, and more tropical-climate testing by original equipment manufacturers are more important than presenting heat as a deal-breaker,” he said.
On the matter of floods, he said that many users are unsure how EVs behave after water exposure, even though these systems are designed with protective mechanisms.
“In the Malaysian context, the more immediate issue is not whether EVs are inherently unsafe, but whether the public has enough trusted information on flood exposure, post-immersion handling, safe charging practices and emergency response protocols. It is a communication gap as much as a technical one.”
Addressing EV market barriers
Another major hurdle remains the vehicle’s resale value, as buyers are wary of the depreciation seen in the current market.
Trends in neighbouring markets like Singapore indicate that second-hand EVs take longer to sell compared to ICE vehicles.
Though based on MyZeva’s observations, EV resale value trends are currently comparable to internal combustion engine vehicles, said Mohd Razif.
“A more pressing issue is the repricing of certain EV models within a short period, which can negatively impact consumer confidence.
“Stronger pricing discipline across the market is important to ensure that EV buyers do not feel disadvantaged and to maintain long-term confidence in EV ownership,” he said.
EV insurance is also perceived as more expensive due to factors such as high cost of spare parts, limited parts availability, a shortage of EV-capable technicians and workshops, and insufficient historical data for accurate risk assessment, said Mohd Razif.
“To address this, the industry needs to resolve resource gaps and create more opportunities for EV-related workshop businesses to grow. As EV adoption increases and more data becomes available, insurance products are expected to become more competitive and better tailored to EV ownership needs,” he said.
Most importantly, building confidence in EV adoption is an ongoing process, requiring continuous refinement and engagement.
“Implementation is not static; it requires iterative feedback loops between policymakers and industry players to ensure that policies remain effective as the market evolves,” he said.
