Ev Ownership Is Lifestyle Choice Can Be Painful Ill Suited Experience For Malaysian Motorists

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ELECTRIC vehicles (EVs) are the future. Or are they?
Going electric may seem like the smart and sustainable choice, de rigueur for those who want to conspicuously flex their eco-credentials.
But as motorist Ayeen Abdul Rahman warned in a social media post, it isn’t as straightforward as just purchase and drive.
In a recent post on the Malaysian Education Info (And Homeschooling To) Facebook page, the poster echoed Joe Beshir Media managing director Joe Beshir (himself) that many pitfalls await undiscerning EV owners in Malaysia.

Plainly put, this isn’t a case of just plugging in after work and it’s good to go the next day or visiting a charge station while sipping a cuppa with the charge complete even before the beverage is done.
The reality, though, is somewhat different.
Speaking after a year’s ownership of an EV, Joe Beshir outlined the many issues facing EV owners in Malaysia.
Hardships of owning EVs
First and foremost, was finding all the charging ports are “under maintenance” when a prior online check indicated they were available. It is precisely such moment that regrets over purchasing an EV sets in.
Secondly, those living in high rise dwellings will find themselves playing “musical chairs” when trying to find an available charging port at their residence.
It’s a “first-come-first-serve” with Joe Beshir alluded to those who hoard charging ports as further exacerbating the problem.

Thirdly, he explained the stress and worry levels associated with long distance travel. He contended that one cannot imagine the distress when the battery level is at 5% with the next charge station being miles away. Even a super large power bank will be of little help at this time, he cautioned.
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Those with a casual attitude towards car maintenance were also warned against EV ownership with Joe Beshir advising that “patience is a virtue” for those considering going down this route.
Quite a few commenters agreed with the sentiments. One even equated EV ownership as a test to humanity by the Almighty.
Long distance travel also becomes a hassle as constant charging will cause the trip to take longer.

The associated anxiety of running out of battery on interstate trips makes it unfeasible for one motorist who argued that hybrid models are the better bet for now. EVs are fine for city travel, he conceded, but queuing time for charging the vehicle could drive one up the wall.

It must be reiterated that EVs are the future. But whether they are suited to Malaysian motorists’ needs at present time is highly debatable.
The infrastructure is clearly still at a teething stage and there is a very long way to go before road tax contributors are convinced of its merits.
For now, the good old combustible engine still rules on Malaysian roads. It is more out of convenience and necessity while waiting for the charging ports to be readily available to all motorists. Or at the very least cater to the growing number of EV on the road.
But if you really want to be a true-blue eco-warrior, perhaps you may want to consider this water and rice-powered vehicle – the humble bicycle. 

 
- Focus Malaysia

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