Datuk Shahrol Halmi on how MyEVOC is helping push the nation’s electrification agenda

However, one thing that is hindering the growth of the ecosystem is the lack of infrastructure when it comes to public charging stations, especially in the East Coast region of the Peninsular—not to mention East Malaysia as a whole.

“Things have changed for the better. Back in 2017, there was literally only one public charging station in Sunway, [Petaling Jaya]. But now, for example, if you are heading to Kota Bharu, Kelantan, you’ll likely need to spend a few hours in Kuala Terengganu, where there are some slow chargers, to continue your journey back to KL. So it’s quite tricky to navigate at the moment,” says the owner of a Tesla Model S. “But, while some trips are challenging, others are relatively easier. Going into Johor and Singapore is a breeze; there are lots of charging stations there. Penang is somewhere in between; the trip up is easy, but coming back might be a bit difficult because there’s only one fast charger between Ipoh and KL heading south. Although, if you own high-end EVs capable of [longer] ranges, then there’s no problem.”

Shahrol also mentioned that speeding tends to deplete the battery percentage quicker. “Most journeys are doable on a single charge, but what some don’t realise is that when you drive fast, your battery depletes faster as well.

EVs are optimised really well and slight variances will affect the battery span. Apart from revving too much, even if you travel while it’s raining heavily, the range might drop slightly compared to driving normally in dry conditions. So it’s essential to have fast chargers along the highway to help users gain confidence in owning an EV.”

For now, the cons of owning an EV seems to be solvable with time. Surely, the government and private players will implement charging solutions as demand undoubtedly grows. The other downside is the lack of sufficient data on the vehicles themselves. Being a relatively new product in the market, there’s no proper evaluation of second-hand values for the vehicles, on top of battery life expectancy. Again, these are problems that will be solved with time.

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The pros, however, definitely outweigh the cons. “You really have to experience the instant torque from electric engines, alongside the quiet [operation]. I honestly feel more relaxed when stuck in a jam nowadays. Firstly, there’s no vibration from the engine, so I sit there really relaxed, and when the traffic moves, a simple push of the pedal and the car just moves smoothly. There’s no stalling or rocking back and forth. My personal experience comparing a combustion engine and an electric one is that it’s a much more positive experience. You honestly just have to experience it for yourself, and as you drive an EV more, range anxiety will also become a thing of the past. You will learn how to estimate the battery percentage required for your trip as you continue using and monitoring your vehicle,” Shahrol says.

Besides the driving experience, its impact on the environment is also relatively less damaging. As global bodies addressing climate change continue to unequivocally emphasise the need to reduce emissions, going electric is definitely a step in the right direction. What’s even better is if we could enhance the public transportation system and, in turn, reduce the number of cars on the road—but that’s a topic for another time.

“We can still lessen the environmental impact of private vehicles by electrifying them. The ultimate goal should actually be that we become more transparent about emissions. Then, when difficult decisions need to be made, like a reduction of petrol subsidies, the public will realise why exactly the move needs to be done— because of the environmental impact, and not simply because the government needs more money. Imagine all the people sitting in their cars with the engine running, waiting to pick up their children from school. People do this because the price of petrol is relatively low, but they don’t consider that the exhaust fumes are also being released around children, who will eventually be breathing it in,” he points out.

“There’s still a lot of room to grow, especially locally and the government needs to help, probably with preferential electricity tariffs or installment subsidies. But eventually, the world is going to electrify. It’s probably going to take four to six decades because change doesn’t come all at once, but it’s coming,” ends Shahrol.

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