Malaysia is moving to end “app fatigue” for EV drivers by building a single interface to find, start and pay for charging across all networks.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the National Energy Council (MTN) Meeting approved the development of an e-mobility service platform (e-MSP) to integrate the operations of charging stations nationwide, replacing the current patchwork of charge point operator (CPO) apps.
The decision formalises a plan first signalled in March when PLANMalaysia, under the housing and local government ministry, said it was building a single application to aggregate charge point operators (CPOs).
At the time, the agency acknowledged the technical challenge of stitching together disparate systems and ensuring accurate, real-time bay availability data.
A recent report adds further detail, stating the National e-Mobility Service Platform would be led by MARii, with ACO Tech charged with app design and Geno Group providing blockchain integration.
The approach is aimed at secure data sharing and interoperability via tools such as smart contracts and digital traceability.
The same report cited 4,161 public charging bays now in service versus a government target of 10,000 by end-2025, underscoring the scale of integration required.
Today, EV drivers juggle several apps to find chargers, check live status, reserve a plug and pay.
Some roaming agreements already let one app activate another network’s hardware, but coverage is uneven — particularly on unfamiliar routes — making a single sign-on experience attractive to mainstream users.
The government’s move seeks to standardise access and payments while lifting the reliability of status information shown to drivers.
Key hurdles remain. PLANMalaysia has warned that integrating multiple back-ends would be complex and that any mismatch in live data could erode user trust.
Industry watchers are also asking whether CPO participation would be free or fee-based, a decision that could flow through to session pricing.
Nonetheless, officials argued that the e-MSP is a necessary first step to reduce fragmentation and support charging build-out targets.
