TNB To Invest RM90 Mil For Building EV Charging Stations

Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) will invest RM90 million over a two-year period in the country's direct charging (DC) stations for electric vehicles (EV). Mohd Junaizee Mohd Noor, TNB's programme director of project management office for electric vehicles, said the company had already built three charging stations at Rest and Service (R&R) areas in Ayer Keroh, Melaka; Tapah, Perak; and Paka, Terengganu.

“We are targeting to build seven more DC stations in Malaysia by the end of this year along the North-South Highway (PLUS). “Insyaallah, by year-end TNB will have 10 DC EV throughout the highway,” he told Bernama. Aside from that, he stated that TNB was in talks to build DC stations along major highways. TNB, according to Junaizee, is committed to increasing consumer trust in the use of EVs for long-distance travel without having to worry about their batteries running out on highways.

“With these DC stations we want to reduce range anxiety and at the same time encourage the use of EV in the future,” he said. Junaizee emphasized that among the constraints faced by TNB and  providers of EV charging service in Malaysia were the approvals needed from local authorities for various forms and types of charging stations. “Every local authority has its own regulations and these should be streamlined soon to ensure this problem can be resolved. “I hope with nationwide coordination, the period for approval from local authorities can be shortened to two months at least,” he added.

Other issues he mentioned were a lack of suitable space or location to install the charging stations. As a result, TNB is willing to work with local companies interested in providing the location, while TNB will extend the electricity supply.

Aside from a lack of infrastructure, the local EV industry is also hampered by EV affordability, a lack of mechanics, EV-friendly policies, and high fuel subsidies.