EV “Special Plate” Still In Technical Stage, Optional For Current EV Owners

During the Kia Batik Air exclusive terminal transfer launch yesterday, Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that the issuance of “special plates” for electric vehicles (EVs) will be finalised after the technical stage is completed.

He further mentioned that this is an ongoing process, and a vendor has yet to be appointed. According to Loke, "Once everything is ready, we will make an official announcement. The details are still under technical finalisation."

Loke also explained that new EV users will be required to register for these "special plates", while existing EV owners will have the option to do so voluntarily. As he had mentioned during the new EV Road Tax structure announcement earlier in the months, the special plates would help differentiate EVs from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

Additionally, as he had mentioned before, the new special plates for EVs are NOT related to vehicle registration numbers but rather the plate/frame that the numbers are placed on. The Transport Ministry is currently discussing with EV manufacturers the specifics of issuing these plates and plans to incorporate RFID technology into these plates as an added feature.

The introduction of these licence plate forms of identification is intended to distinguish EVs from ICE vehicles and ease rescue operations by the Fire and Rescue Department in the event of an accident.

Loke also highlighted that the road tax pricing structure for EVs as stated previously is still undergoing a comprehensive review and would be updated from time to time. This initiative aligns with the government’s goal of promoting EV adoption in Malaysia as part of its sustainability objectives.

On a different note, Loke also urged commercial vehicle owners who have not yet registered under the Subsidised Diesel Control System (SKDS) 2.0 to do so promptly, emphasising that it is their responsibility. As of June 20, there were still 180,000 commercial vehicles that had not registered under the SKDS 2.0.