Proposed New EV Number Plates in Malaysia
In addition to announcing the restructuring of road tax for electric vehicles, Anthony Loke, the Minister of Transport, has revealed that the Road Transport Department (JPJ) is exploring various incentives to encourage the public to adopt EVs. One of these incentives includes the introduction of special number plates that will distinguish EVs from other vehicles on the road.
During the Green Mobility and Transport Forum, Loke stated, “I have instructed the Road Transport Department to develop additional incentives for EV users, such as e-plates for EVs. We can introduce special number plates specifically for EVs to differentiate them from other vehicles. These initiatives will help promote the adoption of EVs.”
The mention of special plates could signify different approaches, such as introducing a new number plate series exclusively for EVs, similar to Singapore’s “EVS” series for electric vehicles manufactured in the country, such as the Ioniq 5.
Other possibilities include adding a letter at the beginning or end of the plate, similar to the practice in Germany, or introducing a unique green plate similar to those used in China and the UK.
Loke’s reference to “e-plates” is intriguing, suggesting the potential use of a distinct type of number plate technology specifically designed for EVs. This could involve innovative ideas such as digital displays to show vehicle registration information, although such technology is still in the early stages of development.
A more practical interpretation would involve the use of “digital number plates” with embedded RFID tags. This approach would facilitate easier vehicle tracking for law enforcement, applicable to all vehicles rather than just EVs. It could also enable users to conveniently pay tolls, aligning with Malaysia’s plans to implement barrier-less tolls utilizing existing RFID technology by 2025.
Implementing specialized number plates would streamline the enforcement of EV-specific benefits. For example, parking operators could swiftly identify if an EV is legitimately occupying an EV-reserved parking space, preventing others from misusing these spots, some of which may have public charging facilities.
According to The Star, Loke mentioned that the Ministry of Transport aims to unveil the details of these incentives, alongside the new EV road tax structure, by the end of the year.
