EVC & Gentari Are First CPOs In Sabah To Receive License For Public Installation Of EV Charging System From ECoS

KOTA KINABALU – 8 August 2024 – EV Connection (EVC), the operator of the JomCharge EV Charging network, and Gentari became the first parties to receive licences for public installation of EV Charging Systems in Sabah from the Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS). The licence handover ceremony was held on 1 August 2024 at BMW Motorrad Regas Premium Sabah and also BYD Regas Sabah located in Kolombong, Kota Kinabalu.

ECoS licences are equivalent to the licences issued by Suruhanjaya Tenaga (ST) in Peninsular Malaysia and are pivotal in ensuring safe installations that comply with safety standards to protect public usage. EVC and Gentari were also the first parties in Peninsular Malaysia to be licenced by ST. The ECoS licences were handed over by ECoS CEO, Datuk Ir. Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahid and ECoS COO Ridwan Saham to the respective parties.

ECoS is a statutory body established by the State Government of Sabah since 10 January 2023. It operates as the official regulator for the energy sector within the Chief Minister’s portfolio. The primary objectives of ECoS are to ensure secure, sustainable, affordable, and accessible energy for the State of Sabah. It plays a pivotal role in shaping Sabah’s energy landscape, promoting responsible energy practices, and safeguarding the interests of both consumers and the environment.

Prior to the licence handover ceremony, ECoS organised a briefing session that was attended by representatives from BOMBA, local authorities, installation contractors, and EV Charge Point Operators (CPOs) at the Asaya Hotel.

“As a step to ensure safe installations that comply with standards to protect public usage, all EV Charging Station (EVCS) operators must obtain a licence before commencing operations, in line with the requirements in Section 8 of the Enactment,” said Datuk Ir. Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahid, Chief Executive Officer of ECoS.

Haikal Zubir, Chief Operating Officer of Gentari Green Mobility remarked, “Gentari is committed towards supporting the green mobility transition across the whole of Malaysia. Being the first CPO to be licensed in Sabah in partnership with EVC underscores Gentari’s focus on safety, reliability and customer-centricity in our operations. We are proud to offer the largest network of licensed charging points across Malaysia and are continuously working to add new chargers.”

Ir Lee Yuen How, Managing Director of EVC commented, “We are very honoured to be one of the first CPOs alongside Gentari to receive these licences from ECoS. Public safety whilst charging has always been of paramount importance to us and we look forward to working closely with ECoS in ensuring this.”

As the number of EVs continuously grows in Sabah, EVC and Gentari are committed to supporting the Sabah EV Charging infrastructure that is required to underpin such growth. This is in line with the sustainable energy agenda as a strategic initiative stated in the Sabah Energy Roadmap & Masterplan 2040 and also in tune with the federal government’s target of achieving 10,000 public chargers by 2025.