Are you thinking of buying an electric vehicle (EV) soon? The government is offering full tax exemption of battery electric vehicles (not hybrids) until the end of 2023, which means that there are considerable savings on the retail price.
However, unlike a hybrid where you do not have to worry about running out of electricity and being unable to recharge the battery pack to continue, EVs will require a new mindset and perhaps even a change in your driving habits. If you do not have a charging point at home, then you will have to get used to going to public charging stations regularly and make a note of where they are.
For some, such issues may be a hassle while others will adapt to them. Some may find that when they want to go outstation, they have to think about where the recharge along the way and they might not be able to detour far.
With the duty-free incentive for fully electric vehicles (EVs) to start next month, there may be many who are wondering if they should switch to such vehicles. While the exemption of all duties and taxes will mean a lower price, don’t expect prices to drop to the same as a Nissan Almera Turbo just because they are duty-free. EV technology is still young and therefore expensive, which is why manufacturers hope governments will help by making them more ‘affordable’.
For those who are thinking of getting one, you can experience ownership for a short while with GoCar’s new GoEV programme. This programme, which requires first signing up as a GoCar member, offers affordable EV access with car-sharing and subscription options. It is available to all fully licensed drivers aged 18 and above.
Nissan LEAF used
The members can select their preferred GoEV Share or GoEV Subs plans which have 25 units of Nissan LEAF fully electric vehicles. The sharing option is currently available only for round-trips (pick-up and return at the same zone) and short-term use – by the hour or by the day. Rates start from RM24.90 per hour or RM249 per day. From now until January 31, 2022, there will be a 25% reduction on rates for all GoEV Share bookings.
The GoEV programme will initially be offered in the Klang Valley where 3 GoEV zones are already in operation. Another seven will be added before this year ends.
“Global warming is at the tipping point and the negative effects of climate change will continue to perpetuate for decades. As a top contributor to greenhouse gases emissions, the transport sector must transition to full electrification, which studies have shown significantly reduces the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere,” said Wong Hoe Mun, CEO of GoCar Malaysia.
EV experience for more Malaysians
“Malaysia still has a long way to go to catch up on EV adoption and infrastructure. However, we believe that through car-sharing and subscription, we can help encourage mass adoption. We are so excited to be bringing affordable EV access to the general public. This way, everyone – not just the privileged few – can experience the EV lifestyle,” he added.
Longer terms also available
Those who want a longer duration to experience what it is like to live with an EV can opt for a 36-month subscription at RM2,299 per month. These rates are inclusive of roadtax, insurance, regular servicing and a wall box home charger to allow more efficient recharging.
To ease any potential range anxiety for car sharing customers, GoCar is also providing complimentary ChargEV cards in each vehicle, which will give users access to almost 300 charging stations nationwide. Charging stations at the GoEV zones are free to use for all GoEV customers.
If you want to know more about the Nissan LEAF or purchase one, visit www.nissan.com.my.
GoCar Malaysia, the car-sharing platform that has been around since 2015, has a large fleet of cars to manage and obviously, it has to ensure that they are always in good condition for customers’ use. ‘Good condition’ doesn’t just refer to mechanical condition (although that is certainly important) but also the interior cleanliness of the vehicle – more so in these times of the COVID-19 epidemic.
To encourage community cleanliness and advocate car-hygiene, GoCar Malaysia has a campaign, called ‘GoClean’ which emphasizes that maintaining a clean and healthy environment is a collaborative effort. This is all the more important as many different individuals will be using the same vehicles which they can book for an hour or for longer periods.
Unlike single-owner vehicles, many different people will use the same GoCar vehicle so it is important that it is kept hygienically clean, especially in these times.
To provide passengers with a comfortable and hygienic driving environment, GoCar Malaysia is constantly expanding its Fleet Maintenance team, increasing maintenance scheduling, and even uses customised algorithms that track which cars need to be maintained. In addition to this, GoCar members can be rewarded if they clean or wash their GoCar before returning it.
“GoCar is a car-sharing platform, which means users after users will be using the car after one another. We have users leaving burger wraps, unfinished drinks – once even chicken bones – and many other unsavoury things in the car. Nevertheless, we will continue to make more effort to maintain the cleanliness of GoCars, and we have to work together to make that a reality,” said Alan Cheah, CEO of GoCar, explaining the reason for the ‘GoClean’ campaign,
With the coronavirus epidemic evolving in the country, the need for preventative measures and healthy environments has never been felt more strongly. In the spirit of community cleanliness, GoClean is to implement a few actions to help make this possible.
Firstly, antibacterial wipes with Benzalkonium Chloride (BC) are placed in the glovebox of each vehicle for users to wipe down the steering wheel, the seats, and door handles. Antibacterial wipes are said to be some of the main preventative measures the public can take against the spread of any illness. GoCar members are thus urged not to remove the antibacterial wipes from the vehicles. If they are not present, the member can contact GoCar.
There are also reminders on the windscreen to ensure that users maintain the cleanliness of the vehicle and subsequently, reimbursement will be given for taking a GoCar for a car wash before returning it via the GoPocket points.
GoCar, which offers an alternative to car ownership for Malaysians, is available in over 400 locations at 72 towns and cities in 7 states. Depending on the requirement, there are sedans, SUVs, MPVs, and even pick-up trucks to choose from. Since February this year, the company also accepts P-licence holders as members.
SOCAR Malaysia, the country’s biggest car-sharing platform, has introduced broader services, upgraded features and even a revamped customer service team. The company also announced the expansion of their door-to-door car delivery service in the Klang Valley, now branded ‘SOCAR2U’.
“Although we have seen the demand for car-sharing increase tremendously since we first started in January 2018 – testament that choosing Malaysia as the first overseas expansion for SOCAR was the right choice – we are celebrating this key milestone of having deployed 2,000 cars to underline our strength as a tech-enabled company. At SOCAR, we use data to tap into the preferences of our customers, rolling out car models at locations and price points that prove irresistible to our end-user. Ultimately, we want SOCAR to go beyond mobility by allowing users to really tap into their deepest desires by giving them the freedom to go to the places they want to,” said Leon Foong, CEO of SOCAR Malaysia.
SOCAR offers different models to choose from with rates starting from RM10/hour.
New services to meet different demands
“We’ve looked at the demand and driving patterns of our SOCAR members and over time, we’ve rolled out new services such as ‘One-way to the Airport’ and our newly expanded SOCAR2U service where we deliver a car right to your doorstep. Driven by data, we are a stronger SOCAR, even more attuned to customer preferences. Over the next 12 months, we will be focusing on delivering a customer-first SOCAR experience from the moment you sign up to the very moment you return your car. One example of this is how the majority of our local driver licence approvals are now done within 2 minutes, as long as you enter the right details and expiry dates,” he added.
SOCAR2U, serving the Klang Valley, was created to meet growing demand from members. The service now covers the span from USJ21 to Bukit Bintang to Kota Damansara. Users can reserve their preferred car and have it delivered to their desired pick-up point, as well as have the car picked up from their preferred return location. The fee is RM10.00, as long as the location is within the service coverage area.
Membership base of 500,000
Mr. Foong revealed that SOCAR’s membership base has grown to 500,000 strong. Typical reservations are between 4 to 5 hours but some users also book a car for up to 30 days! From 100 SOCAR zones, the locations have grown tenfold to over 1,000 zones across the Klang Valley, Penang and Johor.
One of the 2,000 cars in the SOCAR fleet
Currently, SOCAR Malaysia has a fleet of 2,000 vehicles comprising 26 different models. These include the Volkswagen Polo, Perodua Alza, BMW 330e and Mazda CX-5, with new cars added to the fleet almost every month.
