EV drive gets the thumbs up

Fast charge: EV owners are hoping more DC charging stations like the one at the R&R Skudai Caltex petrol station will be set up in the near future. — THOMAS YONG/The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Although the use of electric vehicles (EVs) for travelling on long road trips is still relatively uncommon in the country, several EV owners have decided to give it a try by driving back to their hometowns to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

Farhan A Rahim, 45, who drove his vehicle from his house in Bangi, Selangor, to Kuantan, said it was a smooth journey for him.

“Many have asked whether it is okay to take a long road trip using an EV. For me, there was no problem,” he told Bernama.

Farhan, an engineer who has been using an EV for almost two years now, said travelling in such a vehicle is more comfortable for him, be it for short hauls or long distance driving.

“This is not the first time I’ve driven an EV back to my hometown in Kampung Permatang Badak. At first, I was not confident due to several challenges such as limited charging infrastructure, the fear of getting stuck in a traffic jam, and the lack of service stations.

“However, I managed to reach Kuantan last Saturday without difficulty even though I was using alternative roads from Bangi to Kuala Pilah before arriving at Kuantan – a journey of about 300km,” he said.

Farhan said taking a road trip in an EV required the owner to conduct careful planning because an EV’s range depends on a number of factors, including how the vehicle is driven and its battery capacity.

“However, using an EV is more cost-effective as the cost of charging the vehicle is cheaper than the price of fuel. There are also incentives for EV users,” said Farhan who charged his EV for free at TJM Cars Kuantan.

Sharing a similar experience was 29-year-old Amyrul Annas Rosli, who celebrated Aidilftitri at his hometown in Bagan Datuk, Perak.

“I headed back to my hometown last week. Despite the heavy traffic, my family and I reached my hometown without any problem, and the trip took us more than three hours,” said the vehicle sales advisor.

On the challenges of using an EV, Amyrul Annas said although owners can charge their vehicles at home using a standard three-pin plug, it is very time-consuming.

Therefore, he hopes more charging stations would be set up in the future to facilitate EV charging.