The National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) underscores the importance of transport electrification as one of the key drivers in decarbonising Malaysia’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. According to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), with the automotive industry contributing a significant 4% of the country’s GDP1, and the land transport segment accounts for 55 MtCO2eq or 85% of total transport emissions2, it’s evident that action is needed to transition to greener mobility solutions.
Therefore, it is prudent for TNB to proactively promote both public and private transport electrification in line with our pledge to realise a coal-free nation by 2050. Embracing green mobility practices and technologies is paramount to mitigate the significant emissions burden posed by the transportation sector.
Accelerating the development of Electric Vehicles (EVs) stands as one of the key initiatives outlined in the NETR, with specific targets:
| Year | 2030 | 2040 | 2050 |
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Targets |
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- xEV: Electrified vehicles, including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV).
- 4W: four-wheel vehicles.
- 2W: two-wheel vehicles.
Electrification of the transport sector holds immense potential to clean our air and water, protect public health, and uplift the most vulnerable communities amidst the climate crisis. Despite xEV being the natural evolution for the transportation industry, challenges such as affordability, charging infrastructure, EV-friendly policies, and the local xEV automotive and auto component industry hinder widespread adoption in Malaysia.
The encouraging news is that with the right blend of government policies, incentives, and industry collaboration, these barriers can be overcome. At TNB, we stand ready to work closely with the Malaysian government to aid in the development and expansion of the EV ecosystem. We have identified four (4) key focus areas to support the proliferation of battery-electric vehicles (BEV) in Malaysia’s automotive landscape:
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TNB Fleet Electrification
Gradually electrify 4,874 vehicle fleets comprising pickup trucks, lorries, vans, passenger vehicles and other specialised vehicles, thus reducing scope 1 emission from TNB’s vehicle fleet. TNB has mitigated 2.18 tCO2e in 2022 through the EV implementation. To date, TNB has electrified 127 of vehicles in its fleet.
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BEV Charging Infrastructure
- Ensure the electrical distribution network is ready to support the growing demand for EV charge points.
- Co-plan and co-deploy with Charge Point Operators (CPOs) to ensure optimisation of chargers. A fast-track process has been established to facilitate CPOs with supply applications. To date, 89 applications have been received and processed.
- Offer the convenience of charging experience via TNB Electron Chargers. To date, TNB Electron has a total of 36 charge points across Peninsular Malaysia.
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EV Coalition
- Proactively advocate BEV proliferation via the local Malaysia Zero Emission Vehicle Association (MyZEVA).
- To date, MyZEVA has 47 members and has developed and formulated EV charging system safety guide with Suruhanjaya Tenaga, proposed incentives for EV car manufacturers and providing inputs in the preparation of Garis Panduan Perancangan Petak Pengecasan Kenderaan Elektrik (GPP EVCB).
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Reskilling & Upskilling Programme
- Help prepare the nation’s workforce for the energy transition in both MESI and the transportation & automotive sector.
- Establishment of an EV training hub and development of 6 comprehensive EV training modules at ILSAS. 197 participants have benefited from ILSAS EV program.
- 213 TNB employees have completed specialised EV training on EV technology and implementation since 2021.
- 15 TNB talents under the ongoing TNB Energy Transition (ET) Academy Cohort 1 have been assigned the responsibility of conducting due diligence and designing a robust business case for a self-sustaining EV business model.
These initiatives are aligned with the Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) principles and support the three key pillars of TNB's Energy Transition Plan: i.e., Deliver Clean Generation; Develop an Energy Transition Network; and Deliver Dynamic Energy Solutions to empower cross-sector electrification while enabling customer participation. TNB is taking a proactive approach to drive Malaysia's energy transition, with an investment commitment of RM90 million from 2022 to 2025 to bolster the BEV ecosystem. Together with our partners, we aim to accelerate the adoption of EVs, reduce emissions and create a sustainable future for generations to come.
Sources:
1. Malaysia Auto Industry: Tapping on New Areas of Opportunities - https://www.mida.gov.my/malaysia-auto-industry-tapping-on-new-areas-of-opportunities.
2. National Energy Transition Roadmap - https://www.ekonomi.gov.my/sites/default/files/2023-09/National%20Energy%20Transition%20Roadmap_0.pdf page 42 & 43.