GEORGE TOWN – The federal government has been urged to introduce and initiate concessions to support electric vehicle (EV) usage in a bid to achieve zero-emission mobility in the country.
State Infrastructure and Transportation Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said despite the federal government having announced several initiatives, they are insufficient in addition to no concessions being announced for electric motorcycles.
“For now, electric motorcycles are ‘low hanging fruit’ and the easiest venture into the electric vehicle market,” he said.
Zairil said this while launching the “Free Electric Motorcycle Charging Station” at Kompleks Makanan Renong at Padang Kota Lama, here today.
Also present was Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang and its secretary P. Rajendran and local EV scooter company Eclimo Sdn Bhd managing director Liew Chung Peng.
The initiative, he said, which was jointly undertaken by the state government, Penang Green Council and MBPP, is to set up nine EV charging stations throughout the island city for the convenience of motorcycle EV users.
The nine locations were Astaka at Gurney Drive, 1st Avenue Mall, Kompleks MBPP Lebuh Pantai, Kompleks Desiran Tanjung, Astaka Batu Lancang, Kompleks Sri Selera Bayan Baru, Bukit Jambul Kompleks, and Kompleks Bukit Gedung.
He said this initiative is part of the Penang 2030 vision, which is aimed at encouraging the manufacturing of zero-emission mobility in the country.
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, Zairil said, 20% of the vehicles on the road in Southeast Asia will be EVs, including the 59 million vehicles comprising two-wheelers and three-wheelers and 8.9 million four-wheel vehicles by 2025.
“So, we have to increase our EV usage compared with other SEA nations with a population of 661 million people,” Zairil added.
Meanwhile, Liew said Grab Food has for the time being hired 50 EV scooters for food delivery services with a view to gradually increase the number of vehicles in the future. – The Vibes, June 7, 2022
