Juniper
IBy Dr Long SP
feel compelled to pen a few words after hearing the often repeated mantra “quite or very mafan” from more than a few EV owners staying in condos and relying on public chargers. A doctor colleague with a Model Y, a random stranger spotted with a BMW iX3 and also a brother with an iCaur 03, just to name a few. Higher public charging rates per kWh, charger being OFFLINE unexpectedly and EVs congestion at limited charging ports, all these aside…CAN’T WE JUST REPLICATE the smooth and almost seamless FUEL BUYING EXPERIENCE (even with 3-steps Budi95) like at any of the fuel stations now?
Need we add charging anxiety to range anxiety of BEV users? In my almost 2 years ownership of BEVs, I almost never utilized public DC charging since both vehicles are planned to travel well within their range radius. I suppose this holds true for 70% of private EV owners out there. The rest 30% likely being high-rise dwellers and those needing their EVs outstation.
This is my personal experience with one “branded” EV DC charger at ELMINA Lake Side Mall. In this age of app-dependent world, my question to most of the public charging operators and providers is first and foremost: WHY AREN’T WE ALLOWED TO CHARGE AS A GUEST?
Well, within the app there is a sort of “Charge as Guest” icon which NEVER seems to work! At the unshaded charging pods and under the hot afternoon sun we were compelled to fill up the lengthy personal details and select payment options. Which took a good 10 – 15 mins before electrons were allowed to flow.
I can’t speak on behalf of TESLA users with their Supercharging network. I reckon that’s akin to the “iOS” of electric cars while the rest are Android users – NACS vs CCS2 changing nozzles et al. And permission by TSLA needed to open up their chargers to other makes.
In my limited public charging experience, I have always preferred the DC Handal user interface (Kempower hardware). The charging experience is quite hassle-free and the charging updates on your handphone are almost real time and accurate. There is no need to pre-register lengthy personal info before you’re allowed to top-up electrons. Paying by credit card is just tap and GO!
My purchase at the EV fast charger at the ELMINA Lake Side Mall worked out to 7.20 kWh over a period of 36 minutes. In its seemingly trendy and glitzy app, there was no indication that I was opting for much slower AC charging. I also didn’t know I was paying RM1.60/kWh for slow charging – which is what we pay for fast DC charging. Just for the record, my test car is a Sealion 7 Performance AWD capable of 230 kW DC charging.
There’s another time an i-Caur 03 got stuck at its charging port and no amount of effort to release the charge nozzle worked. Thanks to iCaur Malaysia support, the SUV was free to leave after half a day. Ironically, the ChargeSINI (ABB charger) was not charging at all and there was a tussle between the DC charger and the car’s charging port electronic lock.
Unless and until there is conformity, common familiarity, ease-of-use, reliability and dependability of public EV chargers, the often expressed “Very Mafan” will sadly, continue to ring true for EV drivers on the road.
Off to you the Energy Commission of Malaysia (Suruhanjaya Tenaga, ST) or any other relevant government agency to rein in these irregularities marring user friendly end-user charging experiences.
Disclaimer: this is not a paid content by any EV charging company.
Kuala Lumpur-based Dr. Long See Pin is a certified car enthusiast who has previously spent some two decades testing and writing about new cars. He is currently motoring correspondent at Junipers Journal and can be found online @drlongspcars on Insta, FB and TikTok.
He was also a former member of the Malaysia Car of the Year (COTY) judging panel. As a medical doctor, he specialises in skin & aesthetics @drlongskinclinic.com
