Malaysia Leads Thailand in EV Charger Ratio

As of the end of 2024, Thailand surged ahead in electric vehicle (EV) adoption, registering a total of 227,490 battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

The country also had around 11,000 public EV chargers in place, comprising 3,429 DC units and 7,571 AC units. This works out to a charger-to-vehicle ratio of roughly 1:20.

Malaysia, in contrast, had a much smaller BEV population, with 38,797 EVs on the road during the same period. However, with 3,611 public chargers available in 2024 - 1,095 DC and 2,516 AC units, our charger-to-vehicle ratio stood at a healthier 1:11. 

Despite ongoing criticism that Malaysia’s EV infrastructure rollout is lagging behind expectations, particularly given the government’s bold target of 10,000 chargers by the end of 2025 with zero direct investment, the numbers tell a slightly different story.

When viewed relative to EV adoption, Malaysia is currently ahead of Thailand in terms of charger accessibility.

But does that mean we’re in the clear?

Not quite. According to forecasts by MyZEVA, Malaysia’s BEV population is expected to grow significantly, reaching 717,640 units by 2030. To support this growth while maintaining an ideal charger-to-vehicle ratio of 1:8, the country would need approximately 89,705 charging bays nationwide.

This puts us at a critical juncture. While the current ratio works in our favour regionally, sustaining it will depend heavily on future policy direction. So far, much of the EV adoption has been driven almost entirely by tax exemptions that made EVs more affordable - and little else.

That exemption is set to expire later this year. If it lapses, EV sales could decline sharply putting MyZEVA’s forecast at risk. This, in turn, would likely cause charge point operators (CPO) to delay or reduce their infrastructure rollout.

In fact, starting 2024 we have seen a noticeable slowdown in charger installations, with many operators adopting a wait-and-see approach as they anticipate the government’s next move.

So while Malaysia appears to be ahead of Thailand for now in charger accessibility ratio, the momentum is far from guaranteed. Strong, consistent policy support will be essential to ensure that the EV ecosystem continues to grow in tandem with demand.

Latest EV Charger number - MEVNET 

In fact during a recent Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) press engagement, we were made aware that MAA is urging the government to extend EV tax exemption as without it the growth of late could slow dramatically, similar to what happened with hybrids when incentives were removed in the past.

This is as in the long run, staying ahead will require more than just favourable statistics. It will require real commitment, clarity, and direction from the government — something that, at the moment, remains sorely lacking.

Data Source: Chantakorn David Gridwitchayayarkarn & MyZEVA