KUALA LUMPUR: Green energy vehicles that have cleaner and fewer emission rates are here to help save the environment.
CMS Consortium Ecotour Sdn Bhd launched Malaysia’s first electric vehicle (EV) car sharing programme aimed at helping to reduce environmental pollution, especially in the Klang Valley.
Executive chairman Datuk Seri Syed Mohamed Tahir said the EV initiative was the first such venture launched within Asean.
He said the initiative targeted young Malaysians aged 40 and below. However, he said most of the 400 people who had signed up as members were over 41 years old.
The company said that in addition to the RM32 an hour rate, membership fees were also imposed, of which RM25 would be for a weekly membership, RM50 for a month or RM300 a year.
Syed Mohamed, however, said that registered members would be able to enjoy a RM24 an hour rate for the first three months of the launch.
Asked on the steep rates to use the car, he said the EV was not meant to be used daily and that the company had different packages for those who would like to do so. However, he did not elaborate on the daily packages.
“This is an attempt to reduce the number of cars on the road in addition to creating a carbon-emission free nation by 2020,” he added.
Syed Mohamed said there were 10 cars ready to be used, with 22 charging stations and 30 parking lots around the Klang Valley.
He added the charging stations were open to other electric car users who had registered with Cohesive Mobility Solutions (Comos).
Syed Mohamed said users only needed to register themselves with the Comos website, and collect their membership cards, which also served as the key for the car, at its offices.
“Once that is done, all they need to do is reserve an EV at a selected location through our website and collect the car. RM8 is charged for every 15 minutes, and minimum usage is half an hour.”
Members just need to return the car to any one of the Comos stations and tap their card on the charger or the car to complete their check-out process.
Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib said he would look into incorporating electric car systems into the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) operations.
