Petronas Dagangan Bhd (PDB) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Mercedes-Benz Malaysia and JomCharge operator EV Connection Sdn Bhd to deploy additional electric vehicle (EV) chargers locally. The new DC Fast EV chargers will be installed at select Petronas stations across Peninsular Malaysia by the first half of 2022.
Vice president of marketing Ahmad Adly Alias said Petronas, which has provided EV charging facilities at its stations since 2017, has noted a strong demand for faster charging stations along major highways, especially for road users who travel long distances. The company adds that it plans to strategically install the new DC Fast EV chargers at five Petronas stations in the pilot phase of the rollout, with the aim to enable end-to-end coverage between the North-South Expressway and part of the East-Coast Expressway.
“We view this investment in EV charging facilities a necessary step towards promoting the adoption of EVs in Malaysia,” Ahmad Adly said. He also noted that the partnership with Mercedes-Benz and JomCharge is in line with PDB’s future-proof strategy given the country’s inevitable shift to cleaner mobility in the near future.
Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia says the move is aligned with its global strategy to go all-electric by the end of the decade where market conditions allow. During the signing, company vice president of sales and marketing Michael Jopp also added that Mercedes-Benz will be introducing a range of premium all-electric models in Malaysia to support the country’s gradual transition to EV usage.
EV Connection managing director Ir Lee Yuen How says the company strongly believes in the potential of EVs in Malaysia, and noted that 2022 will be a tipping point for the vehicle’s adoption locally. “This tri-party partnership is a big step forward to support Malaysia in the transition to EVs as part of our Low Carbon Mobility Blueprint (LCMB),” he said.
(Source: The Edge)
