Rising pollution and deteriorating air quality has led to a sharp decline in the overall health of the populace, particularly in urban areas with the World Health Organisation (WHO) reporting that 80% of city dwellers are continually exposed to unhealthy levels of air quality.

This is reflected here in Malaysia, with Petaling Jaya recording pollution levels of 46 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³) well pass healthy levels of 30 µg/m³.

However, the Government’s plan to increase public transport share from its current 20% to 60% by 2020 is poised to dramatically improve this situation for all Malaysians by reducing dependence on private vehicles, easing congestion and mitigating carbon emissions from road transport.

Malaysia has an extensive public transport network with over 173,000 vehicles, as at 2014, emitting approximately 7.07 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (MtCO2) per year requiring over 180 million urban trees be planted to absorb said emissions.

With this in mind, the Government has overseen several projects to increase the effectiveness and sustainability of public transport, including restructuring bus routes, introducing novel-ride sharing programmes, extending the LRT and KTM ETS lines as well as constructing the new fully electric MRT project which will serve over 1.2 million commuters, potentially reducing carbon emissions by over 17,000 tCO2per 100km.

With the majority of rail transport already electric it makes perfect sense to extend this electrification to other modes of transport.


Electric buses
Buses are well-suited for electrification with pre-determined daily travel routes and regular intervals at the depot allowing for recharging, thereby reducing concerns related to range anxiety.

Through BYD Auto and supportive governmental policies, China now boasts the world’s largest fleet of electric buses to meet it pressing urban pollution issues. With over 80,000 electric buses on its roads in 2014, effectively mitigating around 6.6 MtCO2 each year.

Here in Malaysia, our fleet of 65,000 diesel-fuelled buses emit 5.8 MtCO2 annually, signalling a clear need to shift to more eco-friendly options. With national annual stage bus ridership at 223 million in 2014 , this shift is an ideal gateway to build public confidence and understanding of EV technology, while mitigating carbon emissions.

Interest in electric buses is already growing with the Sunway BRT line’s 15 units of BYD Auto electric buses, the Selangor State Government’s deployment of electric buses for their free community bus programme, and other electric buses being tested and deployed in Malacca and Putrajaya.

Meanwhile, the Malaysia Automotive Institute and Sync R&D have invested significant time and effort in the development and manufacture of electric buses with a view to enhancing local expertise and technical know-how.


Electric taxis 
As at December 2014, a total of 64,547 taxis plied Malaysian roads emitting close to 330,000 tCO2 annually.

This represents an important avenue to popularise EVs among the public while simultaneously cutting down on carbon emissions.

Although many taxis are powered by a retrofitted natural gas system which result in lower carbon emissions, switching to all electric cars would further reduce carbon emissions by around 3.2 tCO2 per car.

Nissan, one of the world’s best-selling EVs brands is already cementing its position in this growing market with 550 electric taxis in Europe as at end 2015 .

Meanwhile, catering to the executive taxi market, 167 Tesla Model S cars are ferrying passengers to and from Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport.

Electric taxis provide a win-win situation for all with zero tailpipe emissions providing cleaner air for the public at large even as taxi drivers and taxi companies enjoy fuel and maintenance savings of around 69% and 64%, respectively.


Electric vehicle sharing
Sharing schemes offer even greater opportunities for commuters to build familiarity and confidence in the technology by providing a first-hand experience of driving an EV without having to own one.

These programmes have already gained traction across Europe and America with programmes such as Autolib’ which boasts a fleet of 4,000 electric cars in France and BlueIndy which features a fleet of 500 electric cars in the United States.

In Malaysia, Cohesive Mobility Solutions Sdn Bhd has pioneered the EV sharing market through its COMOS programme which now sports a fleet of 12 Renault Zoes allowing commuters the convenience of travelling around the Klang Valley in a quiet, smooth and environmentally friendly option.


A solid foundation
Internationally, electric public transport continues to grow rapidly, reaching out to a larger user base and substantially mitigating carbon emissions from road transport.

Here in Malaysia, the seeds for a thriving public EV transport system are already being sown, laying the foundation for a promising future for EVs in the country.



With continued investment and support from the public and private sector, Malaysia has the opportunity to completely transform its transportation landscape and become a leader in public green transportation in the region, positively impacting the economic, environmental and social well-being of Malaysia.

The next article in the series will explore the prospects for EVs in the private transport and corporate fleet segments while discussing potential strategies to capitalise on these opportunities.

> GreenTech Malaysia is an organisation under the purview of the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology & Water (KeTTHA) charged with the development and promotion of green technology.
For feedback, email info@greentechmalaysia.my or visit www.greentechmalaysia.my for more information.

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