By Rosli Khan
Replacing petrol-powered cars with electric ones does not alleviate congestion without efforts to reduce the number of vehicles on the road.
Budget 2024 placed significant emphasis on promoting electric vehicles through policies led by the investment, trade and industry ministry and the finance ministry.
While the push for electric vehicles is commendable for its environmental focus, it risks becoming a narrow solution to a much broader issue.
An overemphasis on electric vehicles threatens to divert attention away from more urgent transport challenges facing the country, particularly traffic congestion and the inefficiency of urban mobility.
- Sign up for Aliran's free daily email updates or weekly newsletters or both
- Make a one-off donation to Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara, CIMB a/c 8004240948
- Make a pledge or schedule an auto donation to Aliran every month or every quarter
- Become an Aliran member
Although electric vehicles play a critical role in reducing carbon emissions and addressing climate change, they do not tackle the core problems of crowded roads, poorly integrated public transport systems and the lack of a comprehensive mobility strategy.
Road congestion
Replacing petrol-powered cars with electric ones does little to alleviate congestion if there are no corresponding efforts to reduce the overall number of vehicles on the road, especially in city centres.
Traffic jams will persist, just that the vehicles stuck in the congestion will have quieter and cleaner engines.
The root causes of congestion – such as car dependency, the urban sprawl and an underdeveloped public transit system – will remain unaddressed, leading to the same inefficiencies and lost productivity that have long plagued urban centres like Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru and other state capitals.
Moreover, the current electric vehicle-centric strategy may widen the gap in transport equity.
Although electric vehicles are becoming more affordable, they are still out of reach for many in Malaysia due to their high upfront costs compared with petrol-powered cars.
Without better alternatives, particularly in public transport, lower-income groups may be forced to rely on older, more polluting vehicles.
Thus, the government’s focus on electric vehicles, such as offering minimal road tax, could unintentionally exacerbate social and economic disparities if not paired with investments into affordable and reliable mass transit systems, especially for towns and cities outside the Klang Valley.
Micro mobility
To create a more sustainable and efficient transport system, the government must prioritise a dual approach that balances electric vehicle promotion with robust public transport development.
Consideration must be given to the planning of bus rapid transit (BRT) routes, and to encouraging and offering tax-free incentives for micro-mobility vehicles for urban and suburban use.
Significant investments in public transport infrastructure – such as expanding rail networks, enhancing bus services by creating a BRT right-of-way and integrating first-mile, last-mile connectivity solutions using micromobility vehicles – are becoming essential.
Public transit offers a more effective solution for reducing congestion, lowering overall emissions and improving urban mobility.
A focus on pedestrian-friendly urban streets that promote walkable cities and mixed-use developments with micromobility options can also complement this approach, reducing the need for long car commutes and phasing out car parking spaces in city centres.
For instance, electrifying public transport fleets, such as electric or hydrogen-powered buses, can have an immediate impact on reducing both traffic and emissions.
Combining incentives for electric vehicles with initiatives to upgrade public transport ensures that the environmental benefits of electrification extend beyond personal vehicles to the broader transport ecosystem.
While the promotion of electric vehicles is an important step toward a greener future, it should not be viewed as a one-size-fits-all solution to Malaysia’s transport challenges.
A comprehensive strategy that emphasises public transport, urban mobility through pedestrianised streets, and equitable access to road networks will create a more balanced, efficient, and sustainable system for all in Malaysia.
The Budget 2025 budget should have mandated that all cities in Malaysia implement BRT routes and pedestrian streets for mass mobility.
By doing so, the government could have addressed both environmental concerns and the everyday transport needs of the people more effectively. – Free Malaysia Today
Rosli Khan, a traffic planning consultant, has a masters in transport planning and a PhD in transport economics from Cranfield University in England.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
