Global EV sales to hit 3m by 2021
KUALA LUMPUR: Sales of electric vehicles (EV) are expected to breach three million units globally by 2021, from a record 700,000 units in 2016.
China, one of the world’s top EV markets, is targeting two million new energy vehicle units by 2020, from 580,000 last year. BAIC Group, China’s biggest electric carmaker, sold the most EVs in the world last year at about 100,000 units.
With such an EV advent worldwide, how is this electrifying revolution unravelling in Malaysia?
The EV landscape in the country is emerging, with the government targeting to be the hub for Southeast Asia.
“Malaysia is emerging into the EV revolution, and it looks like everyone is working to keep that revolution charged,” according to www.energywatch.com.my.
The portal said Malaysia had set out the target to support adoption of over 200,000 EVs by 2020, up from a figure estimated in the hundreds today.
A key part of meeting the goal will be the implementation of charging stations. Power players in Malaysia were already queuing up to play their part in supporting the prospect, it added.
The tripartite agreement between TNB Energy Services, Petronas Dagangan Bhd and GreenTech Malaysia will see further installation of 100 ChargeEV stations across the nation by this year. This supports GreenTech Malaysia’s goal of achieving 1,000 charging stations by the end of last year.
The wider ambition for EV adoption sees Malaysia aiming to reach 125,000 charging stations by 2020.
“Malaysia’s ambitions for an increasingly electrified transport network are laid out in the National Electric Mobility Blueprint. The blueprint highlights the goals to support the efficient use of energy in transport, while improving energy security and reducing pollution,” said the portal.
“The reality of those benefits might be greater than many think. With the equivalent of one barrel of oil, the average petrol car would travel a seemingly impressive 2,199km. That is roughly Kuala Lumpur to Yangon (Myanmar). But a comparable EV could carry that journey another 2,000km on the same energy, roughly as far as Dhaka, Bangladesh. That’s smarter use of energy, for a smarter transport ecosystem.”
Malaysia is already on the path of a sustainable transport revolution. BMW Group Malaysia has announced that the country is the leading purchaser by share of sales of its hybrid vehicle models, a combined system, which uses both internal combustion and electric power elements.
But the success of the EV revolution requires power and reliability.
EVs may be a cleaner alternative to fossil fuel vehicles, but that does not mean they come without their own challenges.
The portal said electricity demand of EVs is expected to reach 1,800 terawatt hours by 2040. That is about five per cent of total global energy demand, or a 30,000 per cent rise in demand generated from EVs in 2016.
Like many emerging technologies, time is likely to play in favour of EVs. As technologies become more widespread, the cost of construction will fall, and adoption is sure to rise.
“Supporting that adoption with key EV infrastructure is an important part that governments and power industry stakeholders must work together to deliver, and one supported by ambitious goals in Malaysia to introduce greater numbers of charging points in coming years,” it said.
“Equally vital to ensuring the benefits of EVs are realised will be the support of a reliable, sustainable power ecosystem. Ensuring reliable power to keep EVs running is a key part of the puzzle. Building a balanced electricity ecosystem that delivers low carbon, sustainable power means that for every electric vehicle on the road, the environmental benefits will be amplified,” it added.