Inisiatif Zeekr Power rapat jurang pengecasan EV, kata pakar

Experts highlight key factors for EV charging station rollout, according to a Malaysiakini report. The plan by Zeekr Malaysia to build 30 Zeekr Power charging stations across the country in three years stands out as a private initiative that can help bridge the electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure gap, say experts. Jason Lee, President of the Malaysia Association of Electrical Vehicle Users, and transport scholar Wan Agyl Wan Hassan emphasized the need for significant investment in charging infrastructure, as the sector is moving rapidly alongside the increasing adoption of EVs.

Lee pointed out that automakers should play a bigger role in investing in charging infrastructure compared to relying solely on CPOs or the government. He added that Zeekr needs to follow up on its commitment besides ensuring all 30 stations are successfully built. Wan Agyl suggested that a partnership between Zeekr Power and existing CPOs, like DC Handal, could be a reasonable approach.

Rather than building independent networks, automakers can collaborate with existing CPOs and focus investments in strategic locations. This cooperation should be considered. The last thing we need is 10 automotive brands creating 10 separate charging points, he cautioned to FMT. Under the three-year plan, Zeekr Malaysia aims to build 30 Zeekr Power stations nationwide.

Initial cooperation was with DC Handal, involving seven stations along the North-South Expressway, with at least two charging points at each location and a minimum output of 120kW. This is being done as Malaysia aims to accelerate its charging network after failing to hit the target of 10,000 charging stations by the end of 2025.

Currently, there are 5,624 charging stations across the country as of December 31, 2025, according to the Malaysian Automotive, Robotics, and IoT Institute (MARii). By May 31, 2025, this number had risen to 6,416, comprising 2,143 DC fast chargers and 4,273 AC chargers, surpassing the government's new target of 30,000 by 2030. Labour, Trade, and Industry Minister Johari Abdul Ghani recently warned that charging infrastructure must evolve alongside EV adoption, cautioning that it's not enough to have a sufficient number of charging points compared to the key aspects of charging station location, speed, operating time, grid capacity, and availability during peak hours.

Wan Agyl agreed with Johari but added that the issue is not just about the total number of charging points. Fast charging stations (DC) of 150kW or 300kW along highways are suitable for different purposes compared to low-power AC charging points (22kW) at shopping centers for longer-term parking. The distribution of charging station locations, speeds, operating time, grid capacity, and peak availability is equally important, he emphasized.

The current concern is increasingly shifting from distance to charging station availability, functionality, and accessibility without long waiting times.