{
  "id": 3157599,
  "title": "Initiatives like Zeekr Power can help close EV charging gap, say experts",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/initiatives-like-zeekr-power-can-help-close-ev-charging-gap-say-3157599",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-25T01:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/08/25/initiatives-like-zeekr-power-can-help-close-ev-charging-gap-say-experts"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Experts acknowledge that factors like location, charging speed, uptime, grid capacity, and availability during peak periods are crucial for matching the rise in EV ownership with Malaysia's charging infrastructure. Zeekr Malaysia's ambition to install 30 charging stations across the country over the next three years is seen as a private-sector move that could help bridge the gap in Malaysia's EV ecosystem. Jason Lee, president of the Federation of Malaysia Electric Vehicle Associations, and transport expert Wan Agyl Wan Hassan emphasized the need for increased investment in charging facilities, with automakers stepping up their role beyond relying on charge point operators or the government. Lee urged Zeekr to honor its promise to complete all 30 planned stations. Wan Agyl also pointed out that Zeekr Power's partnership with local charge point operator DC Handal could serve as a valuable model, encouraging automakers to collaborate with established operators while focusing on key locations instead of developing isolated networks. Under the three-year plan, Zeekr Malaysia aims to build 30 charging stations nationwide, beginning with seven stations along the North-South Expressway, each equipped with at least two charging points delivering a minimum output of 120kW. The initiative comes as Malaysia strives to boost its charging network, having fallen short of an earlier target of 10,000 stations by the end of 2025. Currently, there are 6,416 charging points in Malaysia, including 2,143 DC fast chargers and 4,273 AC chargers, falling short of the government's new target of 30,000 by 2030. Johari Ghani, investment, trade, and industry minister, highlighted that charging infrastructure must keep pace with EV adoption, warning inadequate facilities could impact consumer confidence. While Johari Ghani emphasized the importance of increasing the total number of chargers, Wan Agyl argued that the focus should also encompass aspects such as charging speed, uptime, grid capacity, and availability during peak periods. He noted that slower AC chargers are more appropriate for locations where vehicles remain parked for extended durations, while high-powered DC chargers are essential along highways where motorists require swift recharging to continue their journeys. Wan Agyl highlighted that gaps in the network would be most noticeable during peak travel times, when demand could surpass the capacity of available chargers. The conversation is increasingly shifting from addressing \"range anxiety\" to ensuring \"charging certainty,\" focusing on whether chargers are available, operational, and accessible without lengthy waits.",
  "summary": "Experts say private-sector participation can help charging infrastructure catch up with EV adoption, but reliability, location and accessibility matter as much as the number of chargers.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Inisiatif Zeekr Power rapat jurang pengecasan EV, kata pakar",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/inisiatif-zeekr-power-rapat-jurang-pengecasan-ev-kata-pakar",
        "published": "2026-08-25T01:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}