Govt targets 1.5 million EVs in the country by 2040, says Nik Nazmi

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is targeting a total of 1.5 million electric vehicles (EVs) in the country by 2040, the Dewan Rakyat was told on Wednesday (March 29).

Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (pic) said the target comes following EV infrastructure migration at a global level, involving the change of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles which are powered by petrol to EVs.

He said the new target is an increase compared to the target set by the Planning and Implementation Committee for Electricity Supply and Tariff (JPPPET) previously, which was 90,000 EVs by 2040.

"As we foresee that there will be pressure from developed countries to 'migrate' to electric vehicles, we need to be more prepared.

"On that basis, this will be depicted in targets in relation to (the construction of) charging stations, built by for example, Gentari Sdn Bhd (Gentari), Tenaga Nasional and also private companies nationwide, in an effort to help towards electrification, " he said.

Nik Nazmi was responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad (BN-Simpang Renggam) on the government's comprehensive approach to ensure the effectiveness of the Long Term Low Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS) during question and answer session today

On the latest status with regards to Malaysia's aim to become a carbon-neutral nation by 2050 as set under the 12th Malaysia Plan, he said the government is establishing the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Roadmap and Action Plan and LT-LEDS.

"Once the LT-LEDS is completed, this will also help the government in enacting the Climate Change Act which we hope will be able to help the country achieve net zero as early as 2050," he said.

According to him, the NDC Roadmap and Action Plan and LT-LEDS are expected to be finalised in the fourth quarter of 2023. - Bernama