CPOs Given Two-Years To Registration All Functioning EV Charging Bay!

Nga Kor Ming, the Minister of Local Government Development, has established a two-year window for charger point operators (CPO) to submit requests to local authorities for already-installed, fully functional electric vehicle charging bays (EVCBs) reported The Star. With this project, PLANMalaysia and the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) hope to make sure these operators abide by their planning and fire safety criteria.

There are 1,246 EVCBs in use as of August 30, 2023, of which 1,007 are alternating current (AC) type devices and 239 are direct current (DC) type devices. These public charging stations can be found in places like shopping centres, auto dealerships, hotels, and resorts.

The Electric Vehicle Charging Bay Planning Guidelines (EVCB GPP) and the application processes have received approval from the National Physical Planning Council and will go into effect on September 18 of this year. The application process will be streamlined and accelerated by the four primary activities introduced in these guidelines.

First, utility companies like Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) must be consulted by charger point operators who intend to install EVCBs in existing buildings. Depending on the device type, design, and location (indoor, outdoor, or open rooftop), the approval procedure normally takes seven to fourteen days. Departments of the local authority, such as the Engineering Department and Building Control Department, will be permitted to offer certification. A certified consultant will be in charge of the ministry's implementation of a self-regulation or self-assessment process.

Nga urges CPOs to give the construction of EVCBs in outdoor settings top priority. The National Electric Vehicle Charging Station Dashboard, developed by PLANMalaysia, also identifies 10,596 potential sites for EVCB installations. For business professionals and investors, this saves time.

The EVCB GPP offers recommendations on how to design and prepare for the installation of EVCBs in both new and existing developments while taking the type of charging device into consideration. The location and positioning of EVCBs, the necessary amount and size, the availability of a main electrical isolation switch, and the necessary fire safety criteria are all covered by these recommendations.

By installing 10,000 EVCBs nationally by 2025, the government demonstrates its commitment to the development of the nation's electric car infrastructure.