KL Hits 160% While Perlis Is At 4%? A Look At The Huge EV Charger Gap Across Malaysia

If you are planning to drive your electric vehicle from Kuala Lumpur to the northern tip of the peninsula, you might want to double-check your battery percentage. While Malaysia is sprinting toward its national goal of 10,000 charging stations, a new state-by-state breakdown reveals a massive "infrastructure divide" that could determine where you can, and cannot, travel.

According to an analysis by the Malaysia Zero Emission Vehicle Association (MyZEVA), which utilizes official statistics from the data.gov.my portal, the race to go green has a very clear set of leaders and laggards.

The Overachievers: KL and Penang

Kuala Lumpur is currently the undisputed king of the charging game. The federal territory has not only met its target of 1,050 chargers but has smashed it, reaching 160% of its goal. This means KL residents are enjoying a density of chargers that far exceeds initial government projections.

DC Charger at smart Penang

Penang is also celebrating a major milestone. The island state has officially crossed the finish line with 105% of its 600-charger target met. For EV owners in these two hubs, "range anxiety" is fast becoming a thing of the past.

The Mid-Pack: Sarawak, Pahang, and the Selangor Mountain

ChargeSini 80kW DC charger at Skudai, Johor

Several states have successfully crossed the 50% halfway mark:

• Johor: 55%
• Pahang: 52%
• Sarawak: 52%

Interestingly, Sarawak is currently outpacing Selangor in terms of target completion. While Selangor has the highest number of chargers in the country, it is only at 46% of its goal. This is largely because Selangor was handed a massive "mountain" to climb: a target of 4,000 chargers, which is nearly four times higher than KL’s.

The "Charging Desert": Perlis and the East Coast

At the other end of the spectrum, the map looks significantly emptier. Perlis currently sits at the bottom of the list, having met only 4% of its modest 50-charger target.

The East Coast also faces a steep climb. Kelantan is at 13% of its target, while Terengganu stands at 20%. For travelers planning a "Balik Kampung" trip to these areas, the lack of infrastructure remains a significant barrier to EV adoption. Even Sabah is currently sitting in the single digits at 9%.

The Big Picture: 10,000 Chargers by 2025

Despite the regional gaps, the national momentum is strong. Malaysia has already surpassed its specific target for DC Fast Chargers—the high-speed units essential for highway travel. However, the lag in AC chargers (found in malls and offices) and the slow rollout in rural states suggest that the final stretch to 10,000 units will require a heavy focus on the "left behind" regions.

Read: Is Your EV Charger Safe? JKR Just Released The First-Ever Official Manual To Stop 'Dodgy' Installations

Read: Malaysia Leads Thailand in EV Charger Ratio