ZEVA Urges The Govt To Provide EV Charging Infrastructure Incentives

In the revised 2023 Budget, the Zero Emission Vehicle Association (ZEVA) has urged the government to include incentives focusing on electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The goal is to increase the current number of EVs on the road from around 2,000 to 700,000 by 2030. In a statement issued today, ZEVA stated that incentives for EV charging infrastructure should be provided to cities, highway charging stations, and high-rise buildings.

The association stated that "starting-up costs for any interested local and city councils to set up public charging in any particular city" should be offered, as well as "funding of RM500,000 for each rest area catering for six DC (direct current) chargers per rest area" for highway charging areas. Furthermore, it stated that grants of RM10,000 each should be given to non-landed property managers for the installation of EV chargers in high-rise buildings.

ZEVA, however, stated that the incentives should not cover the entire cost of the charger, but rather the costs associated with establishing charging facilities.

"The government's assistance is needed as the first movers' assets will only be utilising a fraction of the full capacity of these facilities. "ZEVA believes that the subsequent companies that intend to deploy their chargers nearby will be able to leverage these existing facilities easily, thus encouraging more to invest." Other incentives to consider, according to the association, include matching grants for EV industry research and development, cash rebates for trade-ins of petrol or diesel-fueled vehicles to EVs, and cash incentives for EV new purchases.

"This small incentive will be useful to inspire some, if not all, of the high-end new vehicle buyers annually."

Source: Bernama