Oh yes, more charging bays for EVs please (Poll Inside)

Topping up: Chng charging his electric vehicle at the charging station located on Level Six of Gurney Plaza multi-level carpark in Gurney Drive, Penang. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star

GEORGE TOWN: The setting up of more electric vehicle charging bays (EVCBs) in residential areas nationwide has generated excitement among EV owners.

Welcoming the new guidelines on the setting up of EVCBs, architect Kevin Ooi, 37, said it would ease his travelling anxieties.

“If it is a fast-charging station, it can take 20 minutes to reach 80%, but if it is slow charging, it can take four times longer,” he said.

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Ooi opted for an EV more than a year ago as he was spending RM1,000 monthly on petrol.

“I make many site visits and travel for work daily. Now, I spend a few hundred a month to charge my car,” he said.

The Light joint management committee chairman HC See said the sprawling 13ha residential township in Gelugor had one charging bay and the number of EV cars were increasing.

“It is clear that EVs are the future and will only continue to gain popularity,” he said.

Meanwhile, a resident at an apartment in Jelutong, who declined to be named, said her apartment’s management committee had been approached by an EV company to install a common charging station.

“Although the installation costs will be borne by the company, I believe there will be hidden charges that will be eventually borne by our residents for the benefit of a few EV owners staying here.

“We do not know if it will affect the electrical supply of our building and if we will need to upgrade our power sub-station.

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“The EV company should instead approach a nearby hypermarket to set up the station as is the practice in many developed countries,” the senior citizen said.

Salesman Aaron Chng, 28, who commutes in Penang island, said he had been driving an EV for three years and only charged it once a week.

However, he said that it was difficult to find a charging bay for his car.

“I usually go to malls on the weekends and hope there is one available. I often have to wait or come back another day if the charging bays are occupied.

“There are more EVs on the road now and it will only increase as it is cheaper to charge a car than to fill it with petrol,” he said.