Will this push back the EV movement in Malaysia?
The last few years we have seen a large rise in the sales of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) and a small, but good sales of electric vehicles (EV) in Malaysia. With the increased number of PHEV’s on Malaysian roads, the need for more EV charging facilities were not as quick to be installed as the jump in sales as the cost of putting up these EV charging stations were not met by the government or its automotive agencies who were actively promoting the use of clean energy vehicles.
Install Your Own
So, in order to sell more EV’s and PHEV’s, the two biggest PHEV car brands decided to start installing EV charging stations in car parks of shopping malls and hotels in major cities to reduce range anxiety for buyers and promote the use of the malls and hotels to the PHEV owners.
It worked like a charm and it provided ‘exclusive parking lots’ to PHEV and EV owners and assisted in these premises having better outlet and room sales.
Economic Hit
Now with COVID-19 hurting almost all industries, especially the tourism industry, we get sad news that many hotels outside of Klang Valley are closing down or on the brink of closing down and soon some shopping malls will be closing their doors as small businesses in malls fail to keep their doors opens.
There is a website that provides a list of charging stations and their locations and the present count in Malaysia is 195 locations with a total of 271 charging stations in 9 states.
In Klang Valley alone there are 39 hotels with EV charging stations and some of them are also about to close down.
The Future On Hold Now
In October last year Tenaga Nasional Bhd’s wholly-owned unit TNB Energy Services Sdn Bhd (TNBES) and Malaysia Green Technology Corp (MGTC) set aside RM1.5 million to put up a further 100 charging stations for EVs at shopping malls and select 5-star hotels.
TNBES managing director Dr Ahmad Jaafar Abd Hamid said at the time, 14 ChargEV stations had been installed while another 35 potential sites were waiting for approval to proceed by the premises’ owners.
“We’re engaging with major parking operators, mall owners and hotel chains to extend ChargEV station network in major cities in Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru,” he said.
Range Anxiety Returns
Now with all the negative economic news and the closure of so many hotels and possibly shopping malls, the use of current EV charging stations will be reduced and more Malaysians are about to get back on the road for business and holiday travel.
We were shared the below list of Hotels (unconfirmed) that are closing down or in the brink of closure around Malaysia and the list does not include most of the hotels with EV charging stations. However, looking at direction the economy is moving, it is just a matter of time for the 4 and 5 star hotels to scale down as tourism will need at least another year or so to start its positive forward momentum.
Melaka hotels that are closing down:
1) Ramada Plaza Melaka
2) Estadia Hotel
3) Hatten Place Melaka
Ipoh hotels that are closing down:
1) Tower Regency Hotel
2) Kinta Riverfront Hotel and Suites
3) Ritz Garden Hotel closing for a few months
4) Syeun Hotel
5) Regal Lodge
6) Travel Lodge
Penang hotels that are closing down:
1. The Prestige Hotel
2. The Wembley
3. Cititel Express Penang
4. Bahang Bay Hotel
5. M Summit 191 Executive Hotel Suite.
6. Berjaya Pg Htl
7. The Light Hotel Penang
8. The Gurney Resort Hotel
9. Bayview Hotel Georgetown Penang
10. Travelodge Georgetown
11. Hotel Royal Penang
12. Jazz hotel
13. Summer tree Hotel
14. Penaga Hotel
15. Jerejak Island Resort
16. Bayview Beach Resort
17. Hotel Seri Malaysia Bayan Baru
18. Hotel Seri Malaysia Kepala Batas
19. Royale Chulan Penang
20. Mercure Penang Beach
21. Sunway Hotel Seberang Jaya
22. Sunway Hotel Georgetown
23. Iconic Hotel
24. Eastin Hotel Penang
25. Lexis Suites Penang
26. Hotel Neo+ Penang
27. Hompton Hotel
28. G Hotel Kelawai
29. G Hotel Gurney
30. Northam All Suite Penang
31. Macalister Mansion
32. Tune Hotel
33. Eastern and Oriental Hotel
34. Boulder Valley Eco-Glamping Resort
35. Oriental Hotel
