New Dedicated Electric Vehicle Test Center (EVTC) Opens In Kedah

A brand new and dedicated Electric Vehicle Test Center (EVTC) saw its first phase officially established earlier today in Bandar Baru, Kedah.

A brand new and specialised testing facility for electric vehicles (EV) has officially opened its first phase in Bandar Baru, Kedah earlier today. Called the Electric Vehicle Test Center (EVTC), it is owned and operated by a local specialist firm Focus Applied Technologies Sdn Bhd.

According to Dr Horizon Gitano-Briggs, CTO of Focus Applied Technologies, the primary aim of this new EVTC facility is to support the growth of electromobility ecosystem both locally, as well as across the ASEAN and South Asia regions too.

Owned and operated by Focus Applied Technologies Sdn Bhd led by its CTO Dr Horizon Gitano-Briggs (second from right), the firm also touts the facility's affiliation with global testing entities such INVICTA.

Evident to this claim is the facility’s affiliation with the International Vehicle Test Center Association (INVICTA) - a global test centre network that serves to optimise use of vehicle test equipment through connected global research efforts.

“One of the main reasons we had to expand our testing capabilities is to keep up with the international standards and test development we do for other countries,” emphasised Dr Horizon further.

Present on-site at EVTC is a 650-metre long "closed loop" test track that's designed to evaluate EV 2/3-wheelers.

In this initial first phase, which saw a RM3 million investment to establish, the facility occupies a sizeable built-up space that houses both a 650-metre long “closed loop” test track, as well as a main test building brimmed a myriad of testing facilities and tools.

Before you ask, the track is short one for a reason – it’s designed to accommodate smaller EV two- and three-wheelers such as autorickshaws and tuk tuks. Dr Horizon adds this was needed to avoid running such vehicle types for tests on local public roads.

A longer test track was touted, but this will form part of an expanded second phase planned by Focus Applied Technologies. Apart from which, the facility can also accommodate trucks, busses and passenger car EVs for test and evaluation. 

Besides the test track mentioned, the main hub at EVTC is fully brimmed with various tools and facilities to conduct a myriad of vehicle test programs.

Also present within the main EVTC testing hub are four individual test cells designed to evaluate engine/motor, battery pack life, as well as hybrid systems.

These can generally run under automated control for up to 20 hours a day, and can perform 1,000-hour testing protocols to evaluate engine/motor/battery, plus other component reliability.

Presently,  key tests programs that EVTC can accommodate encompasses:

Present on-site at EVTC too are four test cells designed to evaluate engine/motor, battery pack life, as well as hybrid systems.

Apart from its INVICTA affiliation mentioned, Focus Applied Technologies also touts this new EVTC facility’s ties in firm global networks and organisations such as the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP, UNDP & UNIDO), as well as the World Bank.

Said organisations sponsors various EV projects globally, particularly for under-developed nations, thus bringing tremendous potential to generate demand for Malaysian talents across various fields – engineering, international project management, and more.

Not only geared up to bolster the local and region electromobility development, EVTC is also poised to double hub as a Trainer Center for TVET institutes, academies and universities.

Moreover, this new EVTC will also double up as a dedicated Training Center for TVET-based learning institutes, academies and universities. For this, it will house of a “drive-in” classroom with stadium-styled seating surrounding a chassis dynamometer.

In lieu of which, the second phase expansion mentioned earlier will also include developing on-site lodging, F&B and other related commercial facilities to support which, adds facility owners Focus Applied Technologies further.

For this expanded second phase of the EVTC, Focus Applied Technologies expects to complete which by 2027 with an estimated additional investment cost of roughly RM4 million.