ST Clarifies EV Charging Licences, Individual High-Rise Charging to Follow

An engagement session with the Malaysian Energy Commission (Suruhanjaya Tenaga, ST) earlier today clarified electricity licensing requirements for EV charging systems (EVCS), particularly in high-rise and multi-occupancy buildings where compliance questions have grown as EV adoption accelerates.

ST confirmed that licensing is required whenever electricity is supplied to others, regardless of whether charging is free or paid. Even homestays or private premises that allow guest charging fall within the licensing requirement.

As of November 2025, Malaysia has 75,487 EVs on the road, with 36,690 registered in the first 11 months alone. These vehicles are served by 5,417 licensed EV chargers, roughly one charger for every 14 EVs. Total installed EV charging capacity stands at 145.3MW, reflecting rapid infrastructure growth alongside vehicle adoption.

Of these chargers, 3,569 are AC and 1,791 are DC, with DC installations already exceeding the earlier target of 1,500 units. AC growth lags due to demand patterns: many EV owners in landed properties rely on home chargers, while shared facilities in high-rise condominiums are beginning to meet AC demand for urban residents.

ST explained that EVCS licence approvals typically take up to 30 days. Processing costs are RM100, with an annual fee of RM100 or RM0.44 per kW, whichever is higher. Licences are issued for 10 years and tied to a specific location.

Licensing depends on power supply arrangements. Facilities with charging capacity of 70kW (100A) or below do not require a Public Distribution Licence (PDL), but an EVCS licence is still mandatory if electricity is distributed. For chargers on dedicated power, only one EVCS licence is required. Where supply is tapped from the existing facility directly, two licences are needed: one for the facility owner and a separate one for the EVCS operator.

Under the Federal Government Gazette Act, Section 54, public EVCS must be licensed. “Public” includes chargers accessible to consumers or employees, whether free or paid. Private-use chargers, intended solely company registered vehicle consumption, do not require a licence.

For multi-storey buildings, licensing depends on metering. A single EV kWh meter serving all floors requires one licence. Separate meters per floor require separate licences. Multiple operators in one building will also require licences based on how meters are installed.

ST is also reviewing requirements for individual multi-storey car park owners to provide EV chargers in designated bays. This policy is expected next year, marking a step toward standardising charging in high-rise developments.

Home EV users are advised to check their electrical setup. Single-phase homes may face load constraints, so owners are encouraged to upgrade to three-phase power or throttle vehicle charging. A 7kW home charger draws power equivalent to about seven household air conditioners running simultaneously.

Currently, there is no licensing requirement for battery energy storage systems (BESS), but a regulatory framework is expected in Q1 2026 to support EV charging and grid stability.

While regulatory clarity has improved, local council (PBT) processes remain a major bottleneck. Non-uniform requirements, slow approvals, and differing interpretations continue to delay charger deployment.

With the national target of 10,000 chargers by 2025 now clearly out of reach, there is a need for stronger government action. Introducing clear KPIs for each PBT, tied to approval timelines and deployment outcomes, could accelerate growth and prevent fragmented local implementation from holding back Malaysia’s EV ambitions.