The first structured steps towards electromobility in Malaysia looks like it will be taken soon, but like with everything nascent, there will undoubtedly be hurdles to overcome in the gradual switch to electric vehicles (EVs).
One of the larger issues that need to be addressed in Malaysia is the lack of charging infrastructure. Those more in the know will say that you don’t really need that, as you’re more likely to charge from home.
Now, that’s all good and fine if you happen to live in landed property, but what about those who are living in apartment buildings? That covers a large population, especially in city centres.
Unlike a house, it isn’t as simple as deciding that you want a charger and having it installed – if you happen to stay in a strata title property, the decision as to whether or not you’re allowed to install a charger at your own designated parking bay isn’t yours. That falls under the purview of a joint management body (JMB), which maintains the apartment or condominium.
It’s the JMB that dictates if, not when, you can make the switch to electrification. Many, or even a large majority of apartment JMBs in Malaysia, have avoided this issue completely, saying it’s just not possible, stating either high costs or the low number of users that will benefit from it.
That’s not a big problem with newer buildings, as most of them would have already been designed with private chargers in mind. Pulling power for your own charger installation – with a separate meter for billing purposes – can be done easily, or at least with minimal costs to the owner.
However, for older buildings with outdated power grids, doing that is much harder. In certain cases, the building’s sub-station would have to be completely overhauled to permit such development, at a significant cost.
It also comes down to how many owners will actually benefit from it. Asking a JMB to spend a large amount of money (taken from the sinking fund, which everyone in the building contributes to) for the benefit of a few owners may not sound like such a fair thing to do. That’s of course something that the JMBs will have to work out.
Management bodies have responded to such requests in different ways. We’ve seen some buildings, admittedly more upscale ones, revamp their power supply lines to support private chargers, allowing owners who wish to install chargers to then do so, at their own cost (this cost would be relatively low, as the large chunk of work would have already been done at the building level).
We applaud such proactive JMBs, as the effect is multi-levelled. Doing so not only benefits owners that already plan to purchase EVs soon, but it also opens the door for other owners to perhaps think of doing so in the future. At the very least, EV ownership becomes a legitimate option for them.
In the long run, it can also help to either maintain or even increase the property prices, as being “EV ready” can be seen as an additional USP for those looking to buy a unit there. It’s like having a sauna or a squash court in the building – prospective owners may not end up using them much or even at all, but just the thought of being able to use those facilities in the future is definitely a bonus.
At the other end of the scale, we’ve also seen many JMBs completely rule out allowing the installation of private chargers . If you live in one of those buildings, any thought of having an EV in the future is pretty much ruled out, no matter how much you’re buying into the future.
The only way for all this to change is for the relevant authorities to implement a form of “right to charge” law. In Malaysia, deciding on such a move would fall under the jurisdiction of the ministry of housing and local government (KPKT).
The call must be that it needs to do so. While it shouldn’t go as far as making it mandatory for all apartment buildings to support private chargers, the ministry should be open to at least providing a guideline for both building JMBs and owners to refer to.
This would provide an avenue to raise the topic further (what can you do, or who can you speak to) if, for example, your JMB has said no, having set guidelines would put some pressure for the JMB to, at the very least, consider the proposal. Ultimately, the issue cannot be skirted any longer for what is surely to come.
Like it or not, EVs are the future. We can all agree on that. At this point, it’s a matter of when rather than if for EVs to take over, so future proofing your building can only been seen as a good thing, right?
I opined the hybrids would be a better option until mass charging facilities are readily available and the range of EVs are equivalent to petrol equivalent.
Agreed. Way forward is not a direct plunge into EV but hybridisation for the next 10-20 years, while the rich can put demands for more charging facilities to build up.
Govt can push law to mandate new builds to include wiring for installation of chargers but what about those already built or 20-30 year old matured apartment without sufficient power supply? Or is it better to mandate new offices & shopping mall parkings to come with EV infra? What about public parking areas or outdoor DBKL car parks? Going EV needs more extensive rethink here.
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“The only way for all this to change is for the relevant authorities to implement a form of “right to charge” law.”
I partially agree. Implement a law yes, but not a right to charge law but rather laws to make cars the absolute last choice in transportation.
New apartment should start include charging point to every parking bay. Another selling point for new built. Existing apartment should start save money from the monthly maintenance fees for future upgrade with charging point. Or dedicated parking bay will be allow to instal and paid by the owner themself.
No deny future EV car will be many favourite choice. Just wait for the right timing
At this point, this is a rich people problem. Not relevant to the masses yet. For example, in the recent budget, the government has to fork out RM30 mil for Internet facilities to 40 existing PPRs. Shows how broadband is still a luxury for some segment of the population. That will probably be the way how EV charging facility will also be implemented.
In the older days, latest Internet broadbands tech first are available to the affluent area (@ Mont Kiara area). Then it flows slowly to the less and lesser affluent area.
Maybe somebody can start a charging subscription company. Install some metered public chargers, or lease a mobile portable charger, like those Blink or SparkCharge stuff that can be shared? They can operate like those Telco giants.
Funny you mentioned Mont Kiara where almost all malls have ample charging facilities, in fact more than 20 public charging bays and facilities within 15 km radius. Thankfully most newer condos here have charging bays and fast charging facilities too
Fair point. Everyone has a part to play in going green but it all boils down to the govt to do their part.
Gov or private sector? To the masses buying P1/P2 this has no bearing for them as EV is an expensive venture for most of them. What about those B40 kapcai users, how would going EV help their daily mode of transport? If you talk to PPR residents they are more afraid of bike getting stolen than worry not having enuff charging ports for the number of motors parked.
EV cars will have no future here. I could imagine all the public charging points would be vandalized like what happened to the public phones and vending machines. Unless you want to sell EV cars to the T10 only.
Bit short sighted though,it will have a future albeit slower than “developed” countries I bet.
Guess it’ll take a while to see the initial upswing of the S Curve, esp. in M’sia. Toyota Prius (only a hybrid) has been introduced for almost 2 decades, and Nissan put a few Leafs on M’sian roads for public exposure. There are still many lower-income group relying on M/Vs for cari makan purposes and most won’t have time to bother if their M/Vs (incl. motorbikes) run on electricity or fossil fuel?
Also, Petronas is a major active player in the economic-political arena? How about those SMEs operating existing petrol kiosks?
Tnb should show their support as well. If developments want to upgrade the incoming power supply please waive the contribution fee. It is expensive to set up an 11kV substation with the TNB approved fire fighting system to tnb spec and dimensions.
The gov can force condo or property owners to set up charging station but everyone is at the mercy of TNB
Battery EV is not future. Anything that need charging and comes with battery is not. Think of aeroplane, ships etc.. FCV is the real future. But they killed it for cost. With FCV, u just refill at the gas station which only need to be slightly converted to refill hydrogen. And electric motor fuel by hydrogen is sustainable without using much coal or more way to generate more electricity, and less the problem of depleting and dying battery cell and lack of charge point etc. They only go for battery because there is a business case for many to involve and the battery and raw material holder successfully lobbied the gov all over the world.
In Armanee Terrace, Damansara Perdana, we have installed 2 ev chargers provided for FOC from MGTC. Probably JMB can explore this option. What we need to do is to prepare the parking area and also the closest DB for the interconnection.
Wonder if it’s possible to have a plug point installed at one’s designated parking lot for plug in hybrids? It would involve getting the approval of the condo JMB and an electrician to install I suppose.