MITI: More power substations needed to support public EV charger expansion in Malaysia

Malaysia will need more power substations to support the expansion of public EV charging infrastructure (particularly DC fast charging) as the country continues to grow its EV charging network, according to the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI).

The move comes as Malaysia continues to expand its public EV charging network. As of May 2026, the country had 6,416 public charging points nationwide, although this is still quite a distance from the government’s target of 30,000 public EV charging points by 2030.

MITI's Deputy Minister, Sim Tze Tzin, said the government is working with Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) to address the electricity supply requirements needed to support more DC fast chargers nationwide.

According to Sim, "As we develop this industry, the government is continuously adjusting its policies and incentives while expanding the number of charging points. What the government is doing now is collaborating with stakeholders, particularly TNB, to construct substations."

"For charging points to function effectively, we need substations to supply sufficient direct current power, which means we must construct more of these substations," he added.

Unlike conventional AC chargers, DC fast chargers require significantly higher power output, meaning additional electrical infrastructure may be needed before more high-powered charging stations can be deployed.

The government is also refining BEV-related incentives and reviewing policies to encourage further growth of the industry. To recap, Malaysia introduced stricter CBU BEV import regulations from 1 July 2026.

The new requirements now for imported BEVs are to meet a minimum 180 kW power output and RM 200,000 Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) value. The new rules are expected to increase the prices of fully imported BEVs over time.