350 EV charging points planned for major highways by 2028

By 2028, 350 electric vehicle (EV) charging points will be installed along the North-South Expressway and East Coast Expressway 2 networks in Malaysia. Datuk Nik Airina Nik Jaffar, transport development head at PLUS Malaysia Berhad, stated this commitment strengthens the low-carbon mobility ecosystem as per Phase I of the Low Carbon Mobility Development Plan. Phase II already saw 118 EV charging points operational at strategic highway locations, including rest and service areas.

This initiative aligns with the Green Highway Traffic Plan 2.0 and involved collaboration with the government and private operators like JomCharge, Gentari Go, and ChargeEV. The aim is to address current and future EV charging demand while alleviating congestion. PLUS is strategically placing Direct Current fast-charging points, expected to be fully operational by 2027, with 20 to 30 points planned for high-traffic corridors.

Under government directive, PLUS plans to introduce Dynamic Fast Charging Under Contingency technology, with output capacity between 47 kilowatts (kW) and 200kW by 2026. Berita Harian's on-the-ground check found EV charging facilities at many main rest and service areas, though some drivers expressed concerns about battery depletion during peak hours. Motorcyclist Mohd Nizam Zainal and EV user Azliya Ghazali highlighted the need for more charging stations, especially in light of growing EV ownership.