Special plates for EVs await finalisation, says Loke

SEPANG: The announcement of the electric vehicle (EV) special plates will be made after the technical stage is finalised, says Anthony Loke.

The Transport Minister said the process of creating the special plates is ongoing, with the vendor yet to be appointed.

“The special plates for EVs are still an ongoing process. Of course, we will appoint a vendor.

“Once we are ready, we will announce it. It is still under technical finalisation,” he said when met by reporters at the launch of Batik Air’s new Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) terminal transfer on Monday (June 24).

Loke added that new EV users must register for the special plates, while existing users have the voluntary option.

On June 5, Loke said EV owners would soon have their own special plate to differentiate their cars from regular internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

He said discussions are being held with the respective EV vehicle manufacturers on issuing the special plates for their vehicles, which are not vehicle registration numbers, to differentiate between EV and ICE vehicles.

Meanwhile, Loke also urged commercial vehicle owners who have not yet registered under the Subsidised Diesel Control System (SKDS) 2.0 to do so soon.

“This is their responsibility to come out and register in the system where the diesel prices remain the same for the fleet card users,” he said.

Loke was responding to a question regarding around 180,000 commercial vehicles that have not yet registered under the SKDS 2.0.

On June 20, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Deputy Minister Fuziah Salleh said there are 389,000 vehicles in this category registered with the Road Transport Department, but only 209,000 have registered under SKDS 2.0.

“So there are approximately 180,000 vehicles that have yet to register, possibly because their owners believe they are ineligible or find the registration process challenging,” she said.