BANGI – The government will look into ways to bring affordable electric vehicles (EVs) priced less than RM100,000 into the local market to benefit the people, says Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
He said the prices of most EVs currently sold in the local market are beyond the means of most Malaysians.
“…Proton will bring in Geely vehicles in the near future…(but) if we can install the vehicles in Malaysia, maybe it will help us to offer EVs (at a) lower cost,” he said at a press conference after officiating at the Bangi Golf Resort EV Charging Station launching ceremony, where he handed over of the Energy Commission’s EV charging system public distribution licence here today.
The licence, Nik Nazmi said, was to ensure that the installation of EV charging stations is safe and regulated.
“(It is) because this industry is a growing industry. So, we want to make sure there are regulations and standards that should be fulfilled by charging facility providers.
“We know that if we do not scale up these charging stations, it will not support the EV expansion,” he said, adding that the ministry hoped that these stipulated standards would convince the public to buy EVs.
He said the expansion of the EV industry in the country was also part of the government’s efforts to achieve a low-carbon future.
When asked about incentives to own EVs, Nik Nazmi said the ministry would look to include them in the 2023 or 2024 budget, in addition to cooperating with automotive companies to bring more EVs that are affordable into the local market.
Regarding the details of the electricity tariff announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today, he said the matter will be announced soon. – Bernama, December 14, 2022
