PETALING JAYA: Shifting to electric vehicles (EVs) could reduce operating costs for e-hailing drivers, but the problem could lie with owning one, says an association.
Chief Activist at Gabungan eHailing Malaysia (GEM) Masrizal Mahidin said EVs could be helpful in a situation where there is uncertainty over fuel prices.
“Electricity ... offers a more stable and potentially lower cost-per-kilometre compared to petrol.
“However, it is important to be clear that this benefit is not yet fully realised for the majority of drivers today due to high upfront vehicle costs, uneven charging infrastructure, and operational constraints such as charging time and accessibility,” he said.
Masrizal said the key problem is not the adoption of EVs but the underlying ownership structure of the vehicles and economic assets within the gig ecosystem.
“If the transition to EVs is dominated solely by fleet ownership models controlled by large companies, there is a real risk that drivers may become increasingly dependent operators rather than independent asset owners.
“GEM advocates for a balanced approach where the EV transition is supported through driver-friendly financing, cooperative models, and individual ownership empowerment, ensuring that technological progress does not come at the expense of economic independence for gig workers.”
