EV Wave Set To Exit CPO Business Space? DC Handal Takes Over The Sphere!

Is EV Wave preparing to quit the CPO space, as the title suggests?

This question came about when we heard of the EV chargers at The Sphere, Bangsar South, adjacent to the AEON Supermarket entrance, being updated from the existing AC units to higher capacity DCs. What we didn't realise was that this was not just an EV charger upgrade, but a full charger and CPO change from EV Wave to DC Handal.

The Sphere Bangsar South, Basement 1 EV charging station, (L) previous EV Wave setup, (R) current DC Handal setup

According to data from PlugShare, the EV Wave AC charging station at The Sphere has been in place for over a year. Moreover, charging has always been free too, despite the fact that we were led to believe that EV Wave was aiming to be the first CPO to establish an open payment system, which has yet to happen. When DC Handal's charging stations goes live this month, they will be the first to beat EV Wave to the punch in open payment option offering.

The Sphere's two existing EV Wave AC chargers, an 11kW and a 7.4kW unit, have been replaced by a DC Handal Autel 47kW DC charger outfitted with a two-gun CCS2 system.

Apart from The Sphere, EV Wave offers two other public EV charging locations: CHINT Malaysia, Shah Alam (1 x 60kW DC Charger) and Gamuda Cove, Banting (1 x 180kW DC Charger), both of which charge RM3.80/minute of charge. Will DC Handal or other CPOs take over these two locations as well if EV Wave is exiting the CPO space? Does this also prove that the CPO space is a highly competitive one which requires huge investment with potential returns only realised over a long period time?  

AgmoEV site shows 3 public chargers under the EV Wave umbrella

As per our understanding based on the DC Handal Bamboo Hills, all DC Handal EV chargers would charge the same charging rate which is RM1.50 per/kW and would be co-branded with BMW. Customers can make payment easily with either their debit or credit card, Google Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay or the JomCharge App and chargEV App.

The DC Handal BMW co-branded Kempower 160kW 2-gun DC charger at The Vertical Bangsar South (Lazada HQ)