The innovative technology behind electric vehicles (EV) has taken the world and Malaysia by storm. With that, more and more questions surrounding the industry and technology continue to arise. One of the biggest worries that customers tend to have when considering the switch to EVs is charging.

While range anxiety is a real thing, the charging networks in Malaysia are growing at an encouraging rate. From February to September 2023, the number of EV charging stations has increased from 900 to 1,246 – with charging facilities now available in almost every major city in Malaysia and along most highway rest areas on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia – signifying Malaysia's proactive efforts in expanding its charging infrastructure to meet the growing demand for EVs. This growing network provides EV owners with a reassuring level of accessibility, further mitigating concerns about finding a charging point in unfamiliar territory.

City drivers in Malaysia, like their counterparts worldwide, have a particular driving pattern that befits the roads in the area. Malaysian city drivers have shorter trips with frequent stops and starts, which often compromises an EV’s battery consumption when drivers are on the road. Although the number of charging stations has increased, EV drivers can opt for other methods that can help optimize their car batteries and reduce their range anxiety for a worry-free driving experience.

Consider your lifestyle and living conditions. Depending on whether you are living in landed houses or in condominiums/apartments, we recommend the following charging habits.

Here are 3 driving habits to consider as an EV driver:

CHARGING IS NOT AS COMPLICATED AS YOU THINK

EV owners living in landed properties

For most EV owners living in landed houses, charging is simple with a setup of a charging station or wall box. Charging an EV is pretty much the same as charging your mobile devices (just less frequent). For example, the standard BYD ATTO 3 can travel up to 480 km (NEDC) on a single charge. If you drive 30 to 50 km on average a day, the charging frequency is once every 10 to 14 days.

EV owners living in high rises
For EV owners living in high rises, most new projects now are equipped with shared chargers at the parking lots for residents. For older residences or existing buildings, the residences can also request from the Alternatively, there are also options now by third party providers where you can install private chargers at your assigned parking lot.

Other public spaces such as shopping malls and petrol stations also make charging convenient, and thanks to user-friendly charging facilities like PlugShare, JOMCharge, and ChargEV, drivers can easily locate these stations to alleviate any charging anxiety and also guarantee a seamless, uninterrupted journey – especially for long distance or out of state travels.

Of course, the travel distance can differ from day to day, depending on the drivers’ schedule. We recommend that you constantly monitor the battery percentage and estimated distance remaining. Having insights on when and where to charge, as well as the optimal route to take (with travel distance and traffic conditions to consider) is also crucial. This understanding will help drivers estimate their daily energy consumption, ensuring their range accommodates their routine city travels without having the risk of running out of power.

BYD EVs offer a comfortable driving range for the average urban city driver’s daily usage. The BYD ATTO 3 standard range offers up to 410 km driving range (NEDC) in a single charge, while the extended range can go up to 480 km. As for the BYD Dolphin, the standard and dynamic range offers up to 410 km and 490 km respectively.

TYPES OF EV CHARGING CONNECTORS

AC Charger (Level 1/Level 2)
In the market, there are various types of chargers available with varying output voltage. An AC charger is recommended for regular usage and is convenient to use at home. AC chargers commonly come with two options, Level 1 and Level 2, with the former having a higher output capacity to reduce charging time. A standard Level 1 charger at 10A/2.4 kW power can charge a BYD Dolphin Dynamic range fully within 28 hours (approximately 18 km per hour), while a standard Level 2 charger at 32A/7.2 kW can charge the same car fully in less than 8 hours (approximately 50 km per hour).

DC Charger (Level 3)
For quick charging or long distances, drivers can look for public DC-type chargers. A standard DC charger (Level 3) can charge a BYD Dolphin Dynamic range from 10% - 80% within 38 minutes (with 50 kW output).

For users with access to these chargers at home, it is as convenient as plugging in to charge at the end of your day (for AC chargers) - just like you would with any of your mobile devices. With Malaysia's growing adoption of EV, more charging facilities are also being built in public spaces including office buildings and shopping malls, offering even more convenience for drivers.

DAILY DRIVING HABITS

When it comes to driving habits, aggressive driving with abrupt acceleration and deceleration can cause your EV to consume more energy. Instead, drivers should drive at a moderate pace and avoid stepping on the acceleration fully for long periods.

New car models come with different modes of driving. The BYD ATTO 3 and BYD Dolphin come equipped with three driving modes – Sport, Normal, and Economy. Choosing the right modes for your daily travels will also allow you to conserve energy by improving battery efficiency. Still, it helps avoid unnecessary depleting of batteries during your travel.

Economy or Eco-mode often offer limited power output that can decrease acceleration rates and ensure that energy is used efficiently, allowing the battery to last longer. Also, a smart throttle response gets adjusted in eco-mode to aid EVs to be more gradual and less aggressive. This will help drivers to have a smoother and gradual acceleration in their daily drives, which helps conserve power.

As more Malaysians continue to adopt more EVs and as the country expands its charging infrastructure, the prominent concern of having range anxiety can be dealt with by many proactive steps. The government aims to have 10,000 EV charging stations set up by 2025; the unwavering support signifies that there is hope that the future ownership of EV cars will be more seamless and range anxiety-free, especially in regards to addressing the availability of charging stations. By also switching driving and charging habits, EV owners can maximize their distance traveled on a single full charge.