Electric Bus Adoption In Malaysia Still Low Due To High Costs - Experts

If Malaysia is serious about reaching "net zero" carbon emissions by 2050, then a comprehensive strategy that addresses the challenges in the transportation sector, which is still based on conventional methods, is required, according to experts. 

Due to its reliance on gasoline and diesel rather than electric buses, Bernama reported that the public transportation sector is the largest annual contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. 

Malaysia has pledged to cut its GHG emissions intensity by 45% by the year 2030.  The transition to green mobility, which is anticipated to lower atmospheric CO2 pollution, will be a challenging undertaking.

According to the most recent data, CO2 emissions from the nation's transportation sector, including public transportation accounted for 28.8% of Malaysia's total fossil fuel combustion, which is significantly more than the country's average of 24.5% globally. 

With only 66 electric buses in operation countrywide, the 2022 Audit shows that the use of energy-efficient vehicles (EEVs) for land public transportation is still low when compared to the developed world.  In contrast to the over 8,500 electric buses that are in operation throughout Europe, only about 340 are registered almost daily in China, according to sustainable-bus.com. 

Thus, given that Malaysia has stated time and time again that it is committed to becoming a carbon-neutral country, why is the country still lagging behind in the adoption of electric buses? 

Experts in the transportation sector said in the news article that the high cost of switching to electrified buses was the reason behind the difficulties.

Anthony Loke, the minister of transportation, previously stated that buying electric vehicles costs twice as much as buying a regular bus. 

In this regard, each European EV can cost up to RM2.5 million, while a China-made bus can cost up to RM1.8 million, according to Pan Malaysian Bus Operators Association (PMBOA) president Datuk Ashfar Ali. These prices are too high for the majority of bus companies operating in this country.

  Although the 2024 Budget includes funding for the purchase of electric buses, only organizations under the Transport Ministry, like Prasarana Malaysia Bhd, are eligible to use this funding. 

In order to achieve this, he stated that PMBOA has submitted an application for a special budget to be given to businesses and private bus operators. This budget will include incentives for buying or replacing EVs, accessories, and other relevant things.

He told Bernama, "The selling price of an electric bus made in Europe prior to the pandemic was approximately RM900,000, and RM750,000 for buses made in China." The lack of public charging stations across the country, particularly in rural and outlying areas and beyond the Klang Valley, is another cause for concern.

In the meantime, Muhammad Yazurin Sallij, CEO of Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd, discussed the advantages of the company's fleet of 15 electric buses in the Klang Valley, which has been in operation since 2015.

“These were the first EV buses in Malaysia (at that time) and can travel up to 250km on a single charge and have been operating for almost eight years. 

“It is still in good working condition given that it has a bus depot at BRT Sunway Complex which is equipped with an EV battery charging station and a workshop for repairs. 

“Based on the experience and positive feedback from users toward the BRT Sunway Line, we are confident of adding more EV buses to our fleet at other routes in Klang Valley,” he told Bernama.

Source: Bernama