The government wants to have a nationwide network of 10,000 charging points for electric vehicles (EVs) by 2025 and that would include East Malaysia as well. While the number has been growing steadily in Peninsular Malaysia within the past 18 months, it has only just started in Sabah with the first EV charging station set up in the capital city of Kota Kinabalu recently.
First in the state
The initiative has been taken by Regas Premium Sabah, an authorised dealer of BMW Group Malaysia. The company has set up the state’s first charging facility at the basement parking level of T1 @ Bundusan, a business and leisure centre.
Regas Premium Sabah has collaborated with JomCharge to establish the charging facility which has two bays. The charging point has an 11 kWh AC supply and charges are RM6 per hour. It is open to the public 24 hours a day.
“We envision a Sabah where environmentally conscious choices are the norm, and the unveiling of the first public EV charging facility here is a significant stride towards that goal. This not only encourages the uptake of EVs but also aligns with government incentives designed to promote sustainable transportation options. We at Regas Premium Sabah believe that providing accessible charging infrastructure will empower more individuals to embrace EV ownership confidently,” said Datuk Matthew Tan Yaw Tzuu, Dealer Principal and MD of Regas Premium Sabah.
More EV stations in future
The company has plans to contribute to expanding the EV charging infrastructure throughout the region. It will establish facilities in other parts of Sabah, with a particular focus on locations like Tawau.
“With the official unveiling of this new charging facility, we congratulate our long-time dealer partner for taking this bold step towards increasing accessibility to sustainable mobility for our customers and all EV owners in Kota Kinabalu. The significance of this achievement lies in its potential to reshape mobility habits and drive the adoption of electric vehicles in the region,” said BMW Group Malaysia’s MD, Hans de Visser.
BMW Group Malaysia been among the more active car companies in helping to build the EV charging network. Since 2022, it has established over 1,000 charging points around Peninsular Malaysia for its BMW and MINI customers.
Besides some 100 charging points at BMW and MINI dealerships, owners also have access to hundreds of facilities through partnerships with service providers. These partners include ChargEV, Yinson Greentech, JomCharge, Gentari, Shell Recharge with ParkEasy, ChargeN’Go, ChargeSini, Go To-U and FlexiParking.
EV charging points now available at selected Pos Malaysia outlets