Gearing up for more EV charging stations nationwide

KUALA LUMPUR: Private sector companies are encouraged to invest towards providing more electric vehicle (EV) charging stations nationwide, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

He said there was a target of 10,000 EV charging facilities nationwide by next year, based on the National Energy Transition Roadmap.

“We hope more private entities will join this effort, as without a sufficient number of charging facilities, people will be discouraged from using EVs,” he said.

Asked how many charging stations were currently available nationwide, Loke said there were only a “few hundred”.

Loke was speaking to reporters after launching EVlution’s nationwide EV charging stations rollout here yesterday.

The rollout is a collaboration between RHB Banking Group, EVlution and Mastercard.

EVlution aims to have 2,000 EV charging stations nationwide by 2025.

Loke commended their efforts, pointing out how the ministry fully supported the strategic partnership between EVlution, Mastercard and RHB Bank to enhance accessibility and convenience of EV charging.

In his speech, Loke said decarbonising the transport industry was an important step for Malaysia to meet the commitment of net-zero emissions by 2050.

He added that the ministry was also looking at updating the road tax mechanism for EVs which will be announced in early May.

EVlution chief executive officer Jeffrey Ong said the goal to establish 2,000 advanced EV charging points by the end of 2025, would comprise locations in urban centres, along major highways, residential communities and public venues.

“We aim to have 100 EV charging points operational by the first half of this year, aligning with the national vision of 10,000 EV charging points by 2025,” Ong said in his speech.

The launch was part of the RHB Green Week showcase held beginning yesterday and ending tomorrow.

RHB Banking group managing director and the banks’ chief executive officer Mohd Rashid Mohamad said embedding good practices was at the core of its long-term Sustainability Roadmap and Strategy.

“The inaugural RHB Green Week showcase and the official launch of EVlution charging stations here at RHB Centre exemplifies this commitment.

“This collaboration and initiative are tangible steps towards promoting EV adoption in line with the National Transport Policy and supporting the nation’s goal of having 1.5 million EVs on the road by 2040.”

Also present at event were EVlution honorary advisor Tengku Datuk Dr Hishamuddin Zaini Tengku Bendahara Azman Shah Al-Haj and Mastercard country manager for Malaysia and Brunei Beena Pothen.