Malaysians want more EVs on the road, says BMW survey

KUALA LUMPUR: A survey by BMW Group Malaysia revealed that eight out of 10 Malaysian drivers desire to see more electric vehicles (EVs) on the road, with the hope of contributing to a more environmentally conscious world.

The recent online survey, which polled 4,000 drivers from Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, was aimed at further understanding familiarity and preference toward EVs among South-East Asian drivers.

Other topics explored included attitudes toward the impact of EVs on the environment as well as factors that would motivate them to buy one.

However, misconceptions on EVs remain, hindering the switch, the poll suggested.

BMW Group Malaysia managing director Hans de Visser said it was encouraging to see the level
of awareness and excitement around sustainable mobility, and that Malaysians view EVs as a gateway to a more premium driving experience.

"Being the pioneer of electrified mobility in Malaysia and having been in the field since 2015, we have observed how Malaysian drivers are receptive and even enthusiastic about transitioning to EVs.

"However, they remain concerned about key issues surrounding it, all of which we have been actively working to alleviate,” he said.

In addition, he said to introduce the best that the German automobile group has to offer with the latest fleet of vehicles, the company has been proactively developing its infrastructure for charging the vehicles.

"With these initiatives, there is also an opportunity to change the perception of prospective EV owners in Malaysia on the significant advancements made.

"Also, an electric future for the passenger vehicle market in Malaysia is closer than they think.”

The poll also showed that 72 per cent of Malaysian respondents chose reduced carbon emissions, cost savings from using electricity instead of petrol (49 per cent), and a more premium experience (40 per cent) for a more electrified Malaysia.

Specifically, 33 per cent of Malaysian respondents believe that EVs can only travel up to 100km before requiring a recharge; 41 per cent expect EVs to be more expensive to service or maintain over a period of 10 years; while 29 per cent believe that charging EVs would pose difficulty.

More than half of the Malaysian drivers surveyed would likely choose a petrol vehicle (59 per cent) for their next purchase, despite motivations to go green.

Some common concerns raised were the electric range of EVs, the maintenance costs, as well as the difficulty in keeping their EVs charged, the survey revealed.