In Cars, Hybrids, EVs and Alternative Fuel, Local News / By Gerard Lye / 27 July 2018 4:54 pm / 47 comments

According to a report by The Malaysian Reserve, the Malaysian Green Technology Corporation (GreenTech Malaysia) is in the midst of drafting a proposal on local electric vehicle (EV) initiatives, which could potentially lead to an all-electric national car.

Company CEO Mohd Azman Zainul Abidin revealed the EV proposal is currently being worked on, to be presented at the ministry level. If approved, it will then be forwarded to prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. The premiere had previously voiced his desire for a new national car project as well as joint development of an ASEAN car with Indonesia – the former being faced with rejection from the public.

The proposal, once completed, will reportedly include recommendations for a small percentage of the government’s fleet to be converted to EVs. “If the government commits to convert a small portion of its total fleet to electric or plug-in hybrid, it would create major awareness and demand for the manufacturers to come in. The demand will allow the manufacturer to invest both in vehicle and charging stations,” Mohd Azman explained.

Other means of encouraging demand for EVs that are being suggested include tax breaks and incentives for manufacturing EVs in Malaysia. GreenTech Malaysia has formed a special purpose vehicle with Tenaga Nasional (TNB) to invest and construct EV charging stations nationwide.

As of now, there are 234 charging stations, with 150 of them located in the Klang Valley region. Mohd Azman says the joint venture with TNB will result in up to 10,000 charging stations nationwide in the next five to 10 years.

“In France and Canada, the governments’ intervention is high to encourage demand and supply in the electric mobility vehicle segment. Malaysia, under the new government and minister, is seen to be proactive in the issue of climate change and care to preserve the environment,” he said.

The idea of a local electric car isn’t entirely new, as national carmaker Proton had previously revealed an Iriz EV at the 2015 International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia (IGEM).

The prototype featured an electric motor rated at 116 kW (155 hp) and 360 Nm of torque. The motor is powered by an LG-developed 39.6 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery, allowing for a 0-100 km/h time of less than nine seconds and a top speed of 150 km/h.

That’s not the only ‘green’ vehicle that Proton has developed either, as there was the Preve REEV (range extender electric vehicle), Saga EV and Exora REEV a few years ago. All these vehicles largely existed as functioning prototypes but were never sold in Malaysia.