How is the shift to EVs in Malaysia going?

Since 2021, the push towards electrification of transport in Malaysia has been underway, with generous government incentives (like full tax exemption on imports) for the auto industry as well as car-buyers and business in EV-related industries providing the boost.

The incentives have started to changed the automotive landscape with many new players from China entering and even investing in local assembly. With a target of 10,000 charging points by the end of 2025 set by the government, a new infrastructure of charging stations is also being hurriedly developed.

After 3 years, what is the progress made? BMW Group Malaysia and the Malaysia Zero Emission Vehicle Association (MyZEVA) have looked at what’s been happening and present several insights, through a series of infographics. Based on data provided by MyZEVA, these visualisations highlight the growth in EV adoption and the expansion of the charging station infrastructure.

Represented by vehicles and models from the BMW i portfolio, the feasibility of interstate travel with EVs, as well as the comparison in charging/refuelling and maintenance costs between EVs and petrol engine vehicles are also explored and detailed.

More EVs in the vehicle population
While EVs were marketed 13 years ago when the government offered duty-free incentives for electrified vehicles (including hybrids), the strong interest during the incentive period faded away when it ended and prices shot up again. As of June 2024, 27,362 new EVs were registered and though this number is small in comparison to the total volume of new vehicle sales, it is growing rapidly.

The heatmap above shows where the most significant number of EVs were registered, with Kuala Lumpur leading at 5,271 registrations, followed by Selangor at 1,544 registrations. Other states are Johor (657), Penang (351), Sabah (326) and Sarawak (268).

This growth underscores the growing acceptance of EVs across the country. With concerns about range and charging facilities diminishing as both increase, many Malaysians are feeling more confident in buying an EV.

Expanding charging network
Correlating with the rise in EV ownership in Malaysia, the number of public charging bays for EVs has also risen exponentially. Starting in the Klang Valley, charging stations – both the AC and faster DC type – have been set up along highways, at popular locations such as shopping malls.

Companies like BMW Group Malaysia have also worked with their dealerships to set up charging stations for their customers as well as the general public. To date, there are over 100 charging point at authorised BMW i and MINI outlets, with over 2,020 charging points available through strategic partnerships between BMW Group Malaysia and various EV charging point operators in Malaysia.

The growing network of charging stations, both in urban areas and along highways, is a crucial factor in this shift towards EVs as it will enable motorists to travel further. This is an important consideration as Malaysians typically make long journeys during festive seasons to their hometowns or go on holiday.

Going further
14 years ago, when the first mass-produced EV went on sale, the range was under 200 kms. Good for urban motoring but not so good for travelling out of town. Today, with newer technologies and more importantly, more advanced batteries with greater capacities, ranges of up to 440 kms (WLTP) for models like the BMW iX1 xDrive30 and up to 433 kms for the MINI Countryman SE ALL4 are possible.

Increasing range, like better fuel efficiency, not only means being able to travel further but also reduces the number of times needed to visit a recharging station. And along with better range, charging times are also shortening. It typically takes around 30 minutes to charge an EV from 10% to 80%, and some models can do it in a even less time with a high-powered DC fast charger.

Cost of running an EV
MyZEVA, which has a large base of EV owners, also looked at the cost perspective of owning an EV in Malaysia using two BMW models – the fully electric BMW iX1 (pictured below) and petrol-powered counterpart, the X1.

It is evident that charging an EV at home is cost-effective, as well as convenient. A wallbox can fully charge the vehicle in approximately 4 to 8 hours (depending on the model). The shows 65% better cost-effectiveness when compared against refuelling the X1 at a petrol station.

EVs also require less frequent maintenance compared to vehicles with combustion engines. There are fewer moving parts and more electronics and much of the time, diagnostic machines can quickly identify and issues.

For BMW and MINI EVs, the batteries are also made up of modules, allowing for replacement of only the faulty modules, rather than the entire battery. This can reduce costs over the long-term, and with technological improvements, other maintenance costs will also go down over time.

BMW has delivered one million EVs since 2013