By 2040, the country is expected to have 1.5 million electric vehicles (EVs), the Dewan Rakyat was told.
The aim, according to Minister of Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, follows a global shift to EVs from internal combustion engines (ICEs) that use petrol and diesel.
He said that the new goal is higher than the previous goal of 90,000 EVs by 2040 set by the Planning and Implementation Committee for Electricity Supply and Tariff (JPPPET).
“As we foresee that there will be pressure from developed countries to ‘migrate’ to electric vehicles, we need to be more prepared,” he added.
On the subject of being prepared, at a Stellantis-hosted event, CEO Carlos Tavares remarked that there might not be enough lithium to replace every internal-combustion vehicle with an EV.
While some businesses are avoiding the potential problem, others are seeing it for what it is. Tavares voiced his frustration with what he characterizes as inflexible regulations around the world that solely focus on EVs.
“Our societies are losing a lot of great potential by not having technology-neutral regulations. This is a big, big loss of creativity, of scientific power that we are deciding upfront by imposing one single technology instead of having a technology-neutral regulation that would create healthy competition,” Tavares said.
Although it is good for the environment and the country is moving towards a greener future, the demand for EVs are high and will there be enough resources and materials to do so?
In addition to discussing the availability of lithium and other raw materials, Tavares also briefly touched on the affordability of EVs. The CEO blames a lack of resources. The raw materials are expensive, scarce, and volatile, and he claimed that “the affordability is not there.”
According to Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, minister of international trade and industry (MITI), Malaysia has set a national goal to have 15% of the total industrial volume (TIV) made up of EVs and hybrids by 2030 and 38% by 2040.
With the number of EVs rising in Malaysia and a plan that is set for 2040, which is not too far away, does the government plan on having more or an equivalent amount of charging stations compared to petrol stations?
Nik Nazmi said that the preparation will be depicted in targets in relation to the construction of charging stations, built by, for example, Gentari Sdn Bhd (Gentari), Tenaga Nasional and also private companies nationwide, in an effort to help towards electrification.
According to Nik Nazmi, the government is developing the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Roadmap and Action Plan as well as the LT-LEDS. The 12th Malaysia Plan set a goal for Malaysia to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
“Once the LT-LEDS is completed, this will also help the government in enacting the Climate Change Act which we hope will be able to help the country achieve net zero as early as 2050,” he said.
As stated by him, the NDC Roadmap and Action Plan and LT-LEDS are expected to be finalised in the fourth quarter of 2023.
