Retired EV batteries repurposed to bring electricity to underserved communities - Nga

Malaysia has proposed utilizing retired electric vehicle (EV) batteries to create energy storage systems, aiming to bring electricity to rural communities, Orang Asli settlements and healthcare facilities. This initiative, called the Circular Equity Dividend, seeks to ensure underserved populations reap the benefits of Malaysia's shift towards a more sustainable economy.

Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming introduced the proposal as part of three initiatives unveiled at COP31, a United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Antalya, Türkiye. The second proposal involves transforming cities into "Material Banks" through mandatory Digital Material Passports, enabling tracking of a material's composition, lifecycle and reuse potential.

The third proposal replaces landfill disposal fee systems with Performance-Based Circular Grants and Local Authority Transition Bonds, offering financial incentives based on measurable environmental outcomes such as higher recycling rates and reduced landfill waste. Malaysia's Circular Economy Blueprint for Solid Waste 2025-2035 targets a 40 per cent recycling rate and a diversion of 53 per cent of waste from landfills by 2035.