According to a report by The Star, PLANMalaysia, which is the town and country planning department of the ministry of housing and local government (KPKT), is developing an app that integrates various charge point operators (CPOs) into a single platform. This would make things more convenient for EV users who may currently have several different apps to facilitate their EV charging needs.

At present, CPOs provide their own apps that enable EV users to find charging stations, check real-time availability, make reservations and pay for charging sessions. Some of these apps already integrate charging stations of other CPOs (roaming) but not all, which means an additional app may still be needed for certain charging stations not on a user’s preferred platform.

The unified app aims to simplify the EV charging experience by providing access to all charging stations in the country with a single platform. As part of its development, PLANMalaysia says it is in discussions with other entities such as the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corp (MGTC) and Malaysia Digital Department.

It adds that integrating the various CPOs posed a major challenge. “A single app may involve integrating various app interfaces, ensuring that they can communicate seamlessly and that users can access all charging stations regardless of the network,” it told the news outlet.

Another notable hurdle is ensuring real-time and accurate data on the availability of charging bays. “Any discrepancy in data can frustrate users and undermine trust in the system. As such, the ability to integrate real-time data feeds from each provider and ensure information is updated accurately is essential. We hope these challenges can be tackled concisely to create a single platform that is useful to the EV users,” the department added.

On the current state of the local EV charging network, PLANMalaysia revealed that there were 3,611 EV charging bays (EVCBs) across the country as of December 31, 2024. The government has set a target of 10,000 EVCBs by the end of this year, so we should expect a comprehensive rollout over the coming months.

Meanwhile, investment, trade and industry minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said the government will try its best to keep EV charging rates at a reasonable level. This is even if there was any hike in electricity tariffs later this year, a matter that has yet to be decided by the cabinet.

“There is a formula (when it comes to certain sectors) and we can always overrule the formula. But we have to admit, this sector (EV) is not as sensitive as others such as the small and medium enterprises. If the electricity tariff goes up, it will have a multi-chain effect,” he said.

Source: Paul Tan