Is It Worth Getting an Electric Car in Malaysia?
Key Points
- Electric vehicles are environmentally-friendly.
- Its initial cost is more expensive than a petrol car.
- Electric cars are a future trend in the automotive industry.
Global warming is an issue that has been getting worse over the years. One of its major causes are gasoline-powered cars, which release greenhouse gasses into our atmosphere when they’re running or at idle speed for hours on end every day until their fuel runs out!
In 2021, Tesla Model 3 became the first electric car to pass 1 million cumulative sales. This showed that the automotive industry is starting to change its course from fuel oil, and electric cars are on the rise. Nowadays, many countries are promoting electric vehicles as there is a way to generate electricity and reduce the use of petroleum. And it’s much cheaper than refilling your car with fuel especially if you don’t have any oil fields within your country!
With 500 EVs on the road today, there are several reasons why people want one, stated by Malaysian Electric Vehicle Owners Club (MyEVOC) president, Datuk Shahrol Halmi (Source: NST). However, is it worth getting an electric car in Malaysia?
Pros
Environmentally-Friendly
Electric cars are more than just a means of transportation, they’re an opportunity for cleaner air and happier lives. The environmental benefits alone make this new technology worth exploring – not only will you be helping improve your community’s quality-of-life but also reducing exposure to harmful toxins while cutting down on carbon emissions that contribute directly to climate change!
Time-saving
True, it might take longer for an electric car to charge than what you would be able to do at a petrol pump. Here’s the thing, you need to stand in front of a pump to refill petrol.
With an electric car, you plug it in to charge, and walk away. You could accompany your family, cook dinner and even sleep if you needed to! Having a plug station in your house makes you feel like having your own personal petrol station, but do note that getting one personal charging pump might cost you a great fortune.
Far Distance Driving
People might think that electric cars cannot be able to drive fast distances, and this is a misconception. If you’re worried about not getting the range with an electric car, don’t be! A typical family car travels 37 miles per day on average and with one full charge of your vehicle, you are able to travel for one whole week.
Better Driving Costs
Let’s compare our national car – Perodua Myvi (Petrol Car) with Nissan Leaf (EV). According to Perodua official site, the size of the Myvi’s fuel tank is about 40 liters. According to the latest fuel price update, you will need to spend RM82 (RON 95) and RM172.4 (RON97) to refill it to full tank.
On the other hand, Nissan Leaf has a standard 40kWh battery that is able to travel up to 311km on a single charge. It costs Malaysians only RM 20.64 to fully charge it (Source: Nissan). It might cost less if you charge it at your personal charging station.
Cons
Limited Charging Port
It’s clear that China is leading the way when it comes to electric vehicles, with over two million on their roads. Europe trails closely behind at 1-million plus! Compared to them, Malaysia is more entry-level.
Therefore, it is not easy to find a charging station, so you need to be prepared and make sure you fully charge your vehicle before long distance traveling. Although there were 251 open-to-public EV charging stations (ChargeEVs) in the country, stated by Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar, it is still insufficient if you need to commonlise EVs.
However, Shell Malaysia has 12 Shell Recharge stations planned for 6 stations across Malaysia. This might help resolve the issue of having limited charging ports across Malaysia.
Limited Vehicle Options
The idea of an electric car may seem foreign and unfamiliar to many Malaysians. The public’s preference for old gas-guzzlers over electric cars is an indication that the market currently lacks interest in EVs. The cost of importing one electric vehicle is expensive too due to low market needs. Therefore, only limited vehicle options are available for those whom are really interested and affordable.
Expensive
One of the most affordable options is the Nissan Leaf as we mentioned above, with a starting price of RM180,566. If money is not an issue, you might consider the Tesla Model S with the price tag over RM650,000. As you can see, the price for EVs in Malaysia will need at least RM100k and above to own one, due to limited options.
Without incentives and support from the government, buyers will not feel motivated to get electric vehicles. This is one of the reasons why Malaysians rather choose to get a petrol car because it is more affordable compared to EVs.
Verdict
In terms of cost, the initial cost of an electric car is higher than that for other types, but the long-term savings make up for it. Therefore, electric cars are a much more ideal option for those who did not have any financial issues in Malaysia.
In our opinion, if you’re looking for environmentally friendly transportation that doesn’t harm our planet, you could choose to get an electric car. The latest electric car launched by Tesla is a sleek and stylish beauty. It could come with an expensive price tag due to taxes in Malaysia but it is a good choice for those who want to make a contribution to nature.
We understand that there are some people who prefer to choose petrol cars over electric vehicles. As we know petrol cars are a more affordable choice and the price of fuel is actually not expensive compared to other countries.
