THE Transport Ministry has instructed the Road Transport Department (RTD) to review the standard operation procedure and regulations related to electric vehicles (EVs) to ensure the sector could be developed sustainably.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said this was because some regulations were now seen to be less suitable to be applied to EVs.

“We must make changes if there are procedures that are not applicable or relevant for EVs. This is because EVs, especially heavy vehicles, are new and most regulations were for diesel commercial vehicles,” he said when officiating the launch of the Swift Green Logistics division and handover of the first Malaysian electric prime mover to Unilever Malaysia at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre in Kuala Lumpur today.

Loke said the government would try to reduce bureaucracy to encourage private sector captains to invest in the EV sector.

He said this would help the entire industrial ecosystem following its potential to raise the country’s competitiveness and attract more investment into the country.

He also encouraged more logistics companies to take proactive steps in exploring and investing in the EV sector. – Bernama, October 16, 2023.