National battery swapping standard in store for electric motorcycles

KUALA LUMPUR: Electric motorcycle industry players have agreed to standardise both the battery swapping system and battery storage system for future products, says Liew Chin Tong.

The Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister said this came after successful discussions between the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry and the Motorcycle and Scooters Assemblers and Distributors Association of Malaysia (Masaam).

“The industry players agreed to form a consortium that will standardise battery swapping technology for electric motorcycles to ensure the batteries will be compatible across platforms,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Oct 31).

With this, Liew said the Department of Standards Malaysia was now working on creating a national standard for the technology to ensure safety, functionality and environment-friendliness.

“The government is also open to strategic partnerships with foreign electric motorcycle players in this regard,” he said.

In addition to stakeholder input, he added that the national standard will also reference existing international standards from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International Electrotechnical Commission and United Nations Regulations.

The national standard is expected to be finalised and announced by next year, he said.

Liew was responding to Lee Chean Chung (PH-Petaling Jaya), who asked about the government’s mid-term plan for the development of battery swapping technology in Malaysia during Minister’s Question Time.

Lee also asked about possible incentives for the public to promote the adoption of electric motorcycles capable of battery swapping.

To this, Liew said a RM2,400 rebate for Malaysians earning less than RM120,000 annually had been introduced under Budget 2024 for the purchase of electric motorcycles.