Setting up EV chargers in rural areas a challenge, says Tengku Zafrul

KUALA LUMPUR: While Malaysia is on track to set up 10,000 charging units for electric vehicles by next year, there are challenges ahead in putting up the same facilities in rural areas, says Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.

The Investment, Trade and Industry Minister said the cost of constructing or installing public EV chargers, especially the DC or fast chargers, is high especially in rural areas.

This has caused operators to face difficulties in developing public chargers for EVs in areas with low demand, he told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

“To help address the issue of uneven distribution of public chargers between urban and rural areas, the government has engaged local authorities.

“Additionally, the ministry has also engaged with highway concession companies, hypermarket chains, the Malaysian Shopping Malls Association, as well as the Hotel Association and the Malaysian Association of Hotel Owners to encourage relevant premises to be supported with public EV charging services,” he added.

The minister was responding to a question from Datuk Mohd Isam Mohd Isa (BN-Tampin), who asked about the number of EV charging stations that are fully operational or currently being installed in the country.

Tengku Zafrul said the existing number of battery-electric vehicles (BEV) charging units in the country is enough to serve 31,000 EV units.

“As of Sept 30, a total of 3,171 electric charging units have been installed across the country.

“Of the number, 813 are direct current (DC) type charging units while 2,358 are alternating current (AC) charging units,” he added.