Why is Malaysia so keen to promote electric cars?

 

Why is Malaysia so keen to promote electric cars? Is there a conspiracy of some sort? Those were questions posed to me by a reader recently, which I thought I would address in this column.

Well, the story begins with weather scientists reporting alarming changes in long-term climate data.

Fortunately, the United Nations, formed after World War II, became the platform for the scientists from around the world to lead a series of international treaties to combat climate change.

One of the first such treaties was the 1987 Montreal Protocol which bound member countries to protecting the earth’s ozone layer.

The Montreal Protocol established the framework for developed economies such as the US and Europe to ban the production and sale of ozone-depleting gases such as refrigerants and aerosol propellants. The impact on less developed regions such as Southeast Asia was that, gradually, CFC-free gases replaced the environmentally unfriendly variety.

The Montreal Protocol has generally been regarded as a success in uniting the global community towards climate change action.

Going forward, and in their efforts to combat global warming caused by the burning of fossil fuels and the emission of carbon, UN members established the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Accord which steered the way for more action to arrest climate change.

Under the UN’s Conference of Parties, individual nations have set their own decarbonisation goals.

Malaysia’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) include reducing the greenhouse gas emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030, compared to levels in 2005.

Vehicles with internal combustion engines, commonly known as ICE vehicles, are among the main sources of those emissions. These are vehicles powered by engines that burn fossil fuels to create mechanical energy.

Another of Malaysia’s NDCs is to increase renewable energy to 24% of the total installed generating capacity by 2050.

If Malaysia fails to meet its international commitments to decarbonise and address climate change, the country may be subjected to severe consequences, both at the national and international levels.

Some countries may tie environmental performance to trade agreements or economic partnerships. Non-compliance could also result in trade restrictions, such as the European Union’s (EU) ban on palm oil.

Failure to meet climate commitments could deter foreign investment in Malaysia, as investors increasingly consider environmental risks, governance and sustainability performance.

Now let’s talk about EVs.

The other reason for the overwhelming embrace of electric vehicles is that they are almost four times more efficient than combustion cars and trucks.

They are more energy efficient in converting energy into motion compared to ICE vehicles. Electric motors can convert a higher percentage of the energy from their power source (electricity stored in the battery) into actual movement, typically around 80-90% efficiency compared to 20-30% efficiency for ICE vehicles.

Electric vehicles can regain energy during braking through regenerative braking systems, where about 30% of the kinetic energy generated during braking is converted back into electrical energy and stored in the battery. This technology improves overall efficiency and reduces energy wastage, which is not possible in traditional ICE vehicles.

Electric vehicles have a simpler drivetrain compared to ICE vehicles, which reduces energy loss through fewer moving parts and utilises a more direct mechanical power delivery system. This simplicity contributes to higher overall efficiency.

When considering the overall energy efficiency from the source to the wheels (well-to-wheel efficiency), electric vehicles are more efficient even if the electricity is generated by coal, the most polluting of fossil fuels. If the electricity is sourced from cleaner and more sustainable energy sources like renewables, the advantage of electricity is even more significant.

In conclusion, electric vehicles generally offer higher energy efficiency compared to equivalent combustion engine vehicles due to the inherent advantages of electric motors, regenerative braking, simplified drivetrain, and the potential for cleaner electricity sources.

EVs are just so right as the way for the transport sector to combat global warming and boiling. It’s just that the growth of the EV population is outpacing the expansion of charging points. Malaysia’s target is 10,000 charging points by end 2025 versus the 2,500 that have actually been installed to date.

So, EVs are not a conspiracy, but a means by which land transport can reduce its contribution to global warming. - FMT

Yamin Vong can be reached at his Facebook page, yamin.com.my.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.