Investigating capacity, locations, and government initiatives for Penang electric vehicle charging infrastructure

This paper investigates Malaysian government initiatives promoting electric vehicle adoption and charging infrastructure. While national-level assessments of Malaysia’s EV infrastructure exist, this study provides a comprehensive field-verified dataset of Penang’s EV charging infrastructure, integrating on-site capacity measurements, GIS spatial analysis, and gap identification. This localized approach uncovers critical spatial inequities, such as the absence of ultra-fast chargers between Penang’s two bridges, which is not evident in prior aggregated analyses. A comparison of Penang’s infrastructure characteristics with other Malaysian states and drawing generalizable lessons for targeted regional EV infrastructure planning. By summarizing these unique findings and their implications for both policymakers and industry stakeholders. • Identifies Penang's ultra-fast charging gap, crucial for cross-regional travel infrastructure planning. • GIS mapping reveals underserved areas, filling a key gap in regional spatial analysis. • Compares four EV models' real-world range for suitability on Malaysian urban and rural roads. • Provides localized, empirical data to support Malaysia's EV policy and infrastructure development.