The signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between KL Electric Mobility, a subsidiary of Masers Energy Inc, and the Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL) sees the announcement of a new electric vehicle sharing service, dubbed ‘KL Electric A-gogo’.
A total of RM1.5 billion is touted for investment over the period of two years, which will see at least 3,000 dedicated charging stations established all over strategic locations. The service is intended as a vehicle “rental” platform, whereby members will pay a certain amount of money for the convenience of using the electric cars.
Speaking at the press conference earlier today, the CEO of KL Electric Mobility stated that there are plans for a total of 150 electric cars to be brought in, while between 10-50 charging stations are expected to be ready in the Golden Triangle region of the city by the first quarter of 2015.
For this phase alone, the company plans to invest a total of US$10-20 million (RM34.7-69.4 million). “This agreement marks an important and profound commitment towards Malaysia’s transition to a zero-carbon nation by 2030. We are currently working with the transportation sector to convert to the ‘fifth fuel’ and usage of electric vehicles as part of our strategy on providing cheaper, cleaner and reliable energy for the nation,” said company CEO Datuk Seri Hj Suhaimi.
As for the car itself, the exact model that will be employed here was not present at the launch, but KL Electric Mobility has stated that it will echo the Autolib carsharing programme seen in France. The model employed in the Autolib programme is known as the Bolloré Bluecar and is manufactured by Cecomp in Italy.
Powering the Bluecar is an electric motor that pumps out the equivalent of 67 hp. It’s juiced up by a 30 kWh lithium polymer battery, providing a top speed of 130 km/h. On a full charge, the car is capable of covering a total distance between 200-240 km – slightly lower than an average petrol-powered car.
More or less the same as a Perodua Myvi in stature, the Bluecar is a three-door hatch that’s capable of seating five. As for the charging stations, KL Electric Mobility was keen to point out that it will be able to charge other models of electric vehicles, including (get this!) the BMW i3 and i8, which at present are not planned to be deployed in Malaysia.
Four packages will be made available to customers, with varying rates for the daily, weekly, monthly and annual subscription. The daily package is aimed at tourists and will cost RM50 for a half hour slot. From then on, it’s a RM50, RM125 and RM600 membership fee, coupled to a RM35, RM32 and RM30 per half hour slot for the rental of the cars, respectively.
If all this seems familiar, it probably is because of a similar service known as COMOS. Utilising the Renault Zoe, Twizy and the Nissan Leaf, the platform aims to provide customers with access to the cars via a form of “rental” service. Also, a corporate lease programme – which includes unlimited mileage, periodical maintenance and a wall-mounted charger at the client’s location – is already operational.
In October, a MoU between First Energy Networks (FEN) – a subsidiary of Edaran Tan Chong Motor – and GreenTech Malaysia was signed with the aim of expanding EV charging infrastructure throughout the nation. First Energy has a government grant to establish the aforementioned infrastructure.
KL Electric Mobility, meanwhile, is looking pretty ambitious as it plans to cover both ends – the EV car sharing service as well as the establishment of the charging infrastructure.
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Doesn’t look as promising as COSMOS
Kelentong je ni……
Funder mcm BlackMoney Petrodollar Launderer mau kasi cuci duwit halam…..
Kereta pun tarak masa launching??? Kikiki……
“Malaysia’s transition to a zero-carbon nation by 2030.”
U WOT M8
More competitor is gud..the more the merrier.
1.5 Billion?
Wonder whose money behind it. Yours and mine money?
Bank la..as this is not central govt project
P1 were not Govt project too.
Why still ask billions from Govt on R&D? Lousy policies made by DrM era.
Kid that never wake up, go back to kiss your boss DrM ass.
p1? why involve p1?…
Where MAI logo on the red background up there..
look COMOS there is MAI logo…MAI is central govt agency
look First Energy Networks(FEN) and GreenTech Malaysia..GreenTech Malaysia is company under Ministry of Energy…
i dont know who is never wake up
rm35-rm50 per half an hour?(correct me if i were wrong) this service is not for average malaysian, hence never make an impact towards eco savvy things, just another capitalism..better sewa viva, baru rm6 sejam, rm60 setengah hari…rm100 utk sehari…minyak jimat,stesen minyak pn senang nk carik..for current state,maybe 20 minute is wasted just looking for charging stations..lame
LOL..RM 50 for half an hour slot? In a congested traffic jam (typical day in KL) that equates to travelling less than 200m
I wonder what would be the total cost (for tourist) to travel from KLCC to Dataran Merdeka for example (typical tourist spot) and i wonder if it would ‘attract’ more tourist
LOL imagine getting stuck in the traffic with no air cond (ev juice saving mode) with the batt about to die n no charging station in sight. Disaster in the making.
Tourist will use the free GO Bus as a hop in-hop off from KLCC/Bukit Bintang to Pasar Seni and walk around.
30mins in KL congestion will lead you no where. I used to have to go though the Tun Razak jam everyday. As someone said, 30mins will lead you 200m.
2030 Zero emission aim.2014 now going to die still using Euro 2 fuel.15yrs left .hi aims zero implement ions.century joke 2030=0 emissions
Not the first time. Not to call me pessimistic. We often have grand plans…but no where near how to implement it.
its 5 years to 2020. The country is moving backwards.
Looks like TATA NANO
mahal sial..
half hour RM 50…
RM1.5b investment for period of 2 year (next election 2017).
150 car x RM130k-rm200k = ? (If next year EV import tax exempted)
3000 charging location x 5 points x rm6000 = ?
Setup + Operating cost = ?
RM1.5b ?
don’t confuse between charging station n whole petrol station…charging station is the charging point itself..for simple understanding..1 charging station 1 EV car
just look at Renault Zoe picture above..1 charging station 2 point for EV car..
They do not need charging station, just parking bay is enuf, but for rental purposes need more that 2 points specific for their services only.
macam proton iriz… tapi bukan proton iriz… nak tunggu proton keluarkan kereta elektrik… lagi 100 tahun pun belum tentu lagi.
wonder if i can buy a renault twizy here?
Warning. Najib’s bontot kisser detected george abdul.
How come everybody miss this part?
“As for the charging stations, KL Electric Mobility was keen to point out that it will be able to charge other models of electric vehicles, including (get this!) the BMW i3 and i8, which at present are not planned to be deployed in Malaysia.”
This is a good start indeed.
there goes our tax money…
in US i rent from Herts only $8 per hour for a Fiat 500 only. 8!!!!! they earn 3k a month and the rental for Fiat 500 is only 8!!!! We as a typical malaysian earn 3k can afford this 100 per hour???
Even the Smart Fortwo Electric in US is only $15 per hour. OMG……
GOV seriouly thought the average income in Malaysia very high?
This is a private company initiative laa, not the gomen…
Good to see EV culture picking up pace in this part of the world. Malaysia, or KL in particular can be a city of experimentation. We can try out new ideas before anyone else.
Maybe next, DBKL and JPJ can allow autonomous car to roam the city? With much freedom and leeway, we can at least appeal to creative people around the world.
As a famous Nobel Prize winner once said, “If we surround ourselves among creative people, we will eventually acquire that trait too.”
are they going to run the same road as the bus, lorry, truck that jammed KL? which is widely run by cronies..
Dont get me wrong, i think car sharing programe using EVs in the city centre is a great idea. but if you dig more info, this damn crony company got grants from Ministry to build charging networks, etc. As long as the company is dependent on gov for revenue, and not serious on building revenue tru its own efforts, IT WILL FAIL. FEN got hundreds of millions to build charging stations from gov..wonder how much this company got
RM50 for half an hour?
This is worse then the taxi charge lah…
Plus where can you go in half hour? probably not enough to que and charge this thing.
Just remove the tax for EV vehicles, grant fund for companies investing to EV components and solar components. This help spin off the growth of EV vehicles gradually and soon economical scale come in for the mass market.
By then home will have solar roof which can charge passenger EV vehicle. As EV on road increased demand of KW increase in proportion and TNB comes in to used smart-grid technology and TNB using high percentage gas to generate KW instead of coal and water which more environment friendly.
Seriously though, RM50 for half an hour is prohibitive. Cheaper to take a taxi to go around.