KUALA LUMPUR: Moves to encourage the use of electric vehicles (EV) will get a boost with a single mobile application for charging purposes.
The app, which is being worked on, will feature a unified payment platform, resolving the inconvenience posed to EV owners who now have to contend with at least six separate payment platforms.
The unified app will enable EV users to locate, activate and pay for charging sessions using any partner platforms, streamlining the charging experience.
Presently, EV platforms or apps developed by Charge Point Operators (CPOs) provide essential tools for EV users to search for charging stations, check real-time availability, make online payments and make reservations.
Charging costs for EVs vary depending on the particular CPO and range between 60sen per kilowatt-hour (kWh) up to RM1.80/kWh.
The Town and Country Planning Department (PLANMalaysia), which is in charge of developing the unified app, said discussions were ongoing with other entities such as the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corp (MGTC) and Malaysia Digital Department.
The department, which falls under the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT), acknowledged that integrating the various CPOs into a single platform would be a major challenge.
“A single app may involve integrating various app interfaces, ensuring that they can communicate seamlessly and that users can access all charging stations regardless of the network,” it told The Star.
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PLANMalaysia said real-time and accurate data on the availability of charging bays were some of the challenges identified.
“Any discrepancy in data can frustrate users and undermine trust in the system. As such, the ability to integrate real-time data feeds from each provider and ensure information is updated accurately is essential.
“We hope these challenges can be tackled concisely to create a single platform that is useful to the EV users,” it added.
PLANMalaysia said as of Dec 31, there were 3,611 Electric Vehicle Charging Bays (EVCB) across the country.
The government has stated that the aim was to hit 10,000 EVCBs this year.
KPKT, through the department, handled the Planning Guidelines for EVCB while the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) oversees incentives to promote the use of EVs through programmes such as the Green Investment Tax Allowance.
According to the Statistics Department, a total of 42,452 EVs were registered from 2018 to February this year.
Total EV registrations between January and February this year increased by 58.5% compared with the same period last year.
Miti Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said the government will try its best to keep EV charging rates at a reasonable level, even if there was any hike in electricity tariffs later this year.
He said the Cabinet had yet to make a decision on the tariff issue.
“There is a formula (when it comes to certain sectors) and we can always overrule the formula,” he said.
Zafrul explained that the government could overrule certain formulas during crisis periods like during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“But we have to admit, this sector (EV) is not as sensitive as others such as the small and medium enterprises.
“If the electricity tariff goes up, it will have a multi-chain effect,” he added.
On Feb 3, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim assured that any increase in electricity tariffs will not burden the business community, with 85% of households continuing to receive subsidies.
Electricity base tariffs in Malaysia are set by the Energy Commission and the Incentive-Based Regulation (IBR) framework which are reviewed every three years.
The next electricity tariff review is scheduled for July.
