Malaysia: Is the Transition to Electric Vehicles a Viable Path Forward Today?

While the global narrative surrounding electric vehicles (EVs) paints a picture of a sustainable
future, Malaysia's reality suggests a more nuanced perspective. While acknowledging the
environmental benefits of EVs, this transition to EVs in Malaysia today may be deemed
inviable for the following reasons: inadequate charging infrastructure (“Malaysia’s Road to
Green Mobility,” 2023) and high upfront cost ownership (“Malaysia’s Road to Green
Mobility,” 2023).

Firstly, Malaysia's infrastructure for charging EVs is inadequate (“Malaysia’s Road to Green
Mobility,” 2023). The limited number of charging stations, particularly outside major cities,
creates range anxiety and discourages widespread adoption. This can be seen in the sales of
EVs: Up to 11,624 units were sold on the road in 2023 (Khoo, 2024), versus 4000 EV charging
stations being available in major cities in the western side of Malaysia and not ubiquitous to
Borneo (Muzir et al., 2022).

Other barriers to consider are EVs' significantly higher upfront cost than traditional petrol-
powered vehicles (“Malaysia’s Road to Green Mobility,” 2023). A Myvi 1.5 L AV is 23.7%
cheaper than a MINI Cooper SE with almost the same body structure (Muzir et al., 2022). This
price disparity may make EVs out of reach for many Malaysians.

The transition might seem viable for pro-EV users and supporters due to zero direct emissions
(Sang & Bekhet, 2015). However, this might be the latter since Malaysia was reported to rely
heavily on fossil fuels for 81% of its electricity in 2022 (Wiatros-Motyka et al., 2024),
diminishing the benefits of EVs. Therefore, the transition might occur if clean energy
generation is applied alongside EV adoption to maximize environmental benefits.

In conclusion, inadequate charging infrastructure and high upfront costs necessitate a strategic
pause. Once these challenges are addressed, Malaysia can sustainably reap its actual benefits.
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