EV Ownership Insight By BMW Malaysia & MyZEVA

BMW Group Malaysia, in collaboration with the Malaysia Zero Emission Vehicle Association (MyZEVA), recently shared data which clearly illustrates the ongoing shift towards electric vehicles (EVs), which is gaining remarkable traction in Malaysia.

Based on the data shared, more than 27,000 EVs were registered nationwide between June 2021 and June 2024, underscoring the rapidly moving trend towards electrified transportation.

Alongside this spike in registrations, there has been a notable expansion in the public charging infrastructure, indicating Malaysia's continuous progress towards a sustainable future in the mobility sector.

With 5,271 EV registrations, Kuala Lumpur leads in EV adoption, followed by Selangor with 1,544. Significant increase has also been observed in Johor, Penang, Sabah, and Sarawak, where a total of about 1,600 EVs have been registered in these states.

Furthermore, the increase in online vehicle registration, which currently makes up 17,224 of the 27,382 total EV registrations, is another intriguing trend. This illustrates not only the increasing popularity of electric cars as well as a streamlined, more efficient process of ownership.

Additionally, the increasing popularity of electric car ownership can be attributed to better vehicle performance and range too. For instance, the MINI Countryman SE ALL4 has a range of 433 KM, whereas the BMW iX1 xDrive30 has a range of up to 440 KM (WLTP). These vehicles are currently competitive in terms of distance it can cover in comparison to conventional petrol-powered cars, making them a viable choice for long-distance travel throughout Malaysia.

In addition to home charging, the exponential growth of public charging stations is fuelling the boom in EV ownership. There are 2,606 public charging stations currently in the country as of June 2024. In order to reduce "range anxiety," or the fear that an electric vehicle would run out of power when travelling long distances, this infrastructure, particularly the availability of DC fast chargers is crucial.

However, we at Carz.com.my find these data just merely reports of what is published on PLANMalaysia’s MEVNet without addressing the sudden slowdown on EV charger rollout this year as compared to 2023. The reason for the slowdown is due to additional regulatory and cost implications placed on CPOs by the government bodies and local authority.

Another important element in the growing popularity of EVs is their cost of ownership. MyZEVA data indicates that charging for example an iX1 at home is about 65% cheaper than filling up a petrol-powered BMW X1 (RON97). However, the same data also points out that if you use public DC chargers as your major source of charging, this cost difference is insignificant.

Additionally, because EVs have fewer moving parts and don't require regular oil changes, their long-term upkeep is less expensive, demonstrating the clear and compelling financial benefits of owning an electric vehicle.

BMW Group Malaysia, as one of the biggest player in the local EV space has to date shifted over 6,400 fully electric BMW and MINI vehicles to the Malaysian buyers. They have also rolled out over 2,020 charging facilities through partnerships with local CPOs, ensuring that infrastructure keeps pace with demand.

Furthermore, there are currently over 100 BMW i and MINI charging stations available at partner locations and dealerships, with plans to add more. As the nation develops, maintaining infrastructure development and raising public awareness will be essential behind EV adoption.