COMMUTING in electric vehicles (EV) in Penang will be easier after the state hits its target of having at least 600 EV charging bays.

That will be 300 such bays on the island and an equal number on the mainland this year.

State local government, town and country planning committee chairman Jason H’ng Mooi Lye announced this after launching an EV charging bay at Gat Lebuh China in George Town.

The initiative is part of the national aim to have 10,000 EV charging bays installed nationwide in 2025.

H’ng said Penang Island City Council (MBPP) had to study the feasibility of installing such bays on the island, taking into account space constraints and land scarcity.

Achieving this meant converting existing parking bays in MBPP’s multi-storey carparks and on the street.

Two newly built EV charging bays at Gat Lebuh China in George Town.

Buletin Mutiara reported that as of January, there were 52 charging bays under MBPP at 26 locations on the island.

They are currently undergoing power connection by Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB).

“Once TNB completes the meter installations, the 52 bays are expected to be fully operational next month.

“We will have a profit-sharing arrangement with the service providers,” said H’ng.

Of the 52 charging bays, 50 are DC chargers (60kW), and two are AC chargers (22kW).

Users are to pay RM1.09/kWh for AC chargers and RM1.39/kWh for DC chargers.

MBPP is now implementing Phase Two by requesting proposals on EV charging bays at another 27 sites.

“We expect the second phase to be completed by December,” H’ng added.

Penang island mayor Datuk A. Rajen­dran said the 52 bays and another 261 built by private operators meant the island had more than the targeted 300 char­ging bays.

“As the number of EVs increases, we plan to set up more char­ging bays. Phase Two’s target is for over 100 more such bays by year-end.

“New property developments are now required to allocate 2% of their parking bays for EV charging,” Rajendran said.