PETALING JAYA: Hybrid cars are becoming increasingly popular among Malaysians, with close to 30,000 units registered in the first seven months of the year.
According to figures from data.gov.my, 29,769 hybrid cars were registered between January and July, up by 78.9% from 16,643 in the same period last year.
Last month alone, 5,622 hybrid cars were registered, more than double the 2,476 hybrid registrations recorded in the same month last year.
Fully electric vehicle (EV) registrations also surged 94.1% year-on-year to 38,675, from 19,935 during the same period last year.
With Malaysia still not having enough public chargers, some motorists interested to make the switch from internal combustion to electric cars find hybrids to be a more appealing option.
Tham Jo Yee, 30, had considered buying an EV before settling on a hybrid.
Lower fuel costs, reduced emissions and availability of charging stations were among the main factors behind her decision.
She said her hybrid offered better fuel economy and a smoother, quieter drive, particularly in city traffic.
“I can still refuel normally, so I need not worry about finding a charging station,” she said, adding that she would consider buying another hybrid when it was time to change her car.
Daniel Raj, 41, who owns a petrol car that’s more than 10 years old, is considering a hybrid on account of better fuel economy and the long driving range.
Daniel said he had also considered an EV but was concerned about the availability of charging stations and experiencing charging anxiety, particularly on longer journeys.
“I think charging stations are still not enough.”
Amirul Asyraf, 36, has been driving electrified vehicles since 2017, when he bought his first hybrid. He now owns a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.
Amirul said he had considered an EV but remained concerned about whether its range would be sufficient for trips to his hometown, more than 400km away, and about the adequacy of Malaysia’s charging infrastructure.
He said his plug-in hybrid offered a smooth driving experience, practicality and the flexibility of using different power modes.
“Definitely,” he said when asked if he would buy another hybrid.
