EV charging in Malaysia runs on apps. Each charging network has its own app that finds a charger, starts the session and takes your payment, so the one job to do before you need a charge is to install two or three of them and add a card. Plugs follow a national standard: Type 2 for slower AC charging, and CCS2 for DC fast charging, with the older CHAdeMO plug on some units.
AC or DC: the two kinds of public charger
| AC charging | DC fast charging | |
|---|---|---|
| Plug | Type 2 | CCS2 (some units also have the older CHAdeMO plug) |
| Where you find it | Malls, hotels, offices, condominium car parks | Highway R&Rs and lay-bys, petrol stations, some malls |
| How fast | Slow: hours to fill a large battery | Fast: on the PLUS highway chargers, about 80% in 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the car |
| Suits | Lunch, a film, overnight at the hotel | A stop on a long drive |
The DC numbers depend on the car as much as the charger. A car that can only accept a modest rate won't charge faster on a 200 kW unit, and every EV slows down as the battery gets close to full. That's why people on long drives charge to about 80% and move on.
The networks and their apps
You don't need all of them, but one app rarely covers everything you'll pass.
- Gentari (app: Gentari Go). Listed more than 600 charging points in Malaysia in July 2026, including DC chargers on the North–South Expressway.
- JomCharge. Finds stations, takes payment and tracks your session in the app.
- ChargEV. The third of the apps PLUS works with on its highways (more on that below).
- Shell Recharge and Charge+ have DC chargers at some petrol stations and highway stops, each with its own app.
- TNB, the national electricity company, also runs chargers, including at some highway stops.
On the highways themselves, PLUS had 118 charging points working in August 2026, all DC, at R&Rs, lay-bys and petrol stations along its expressways, with power from 47 kW to 200 kW. PLUS uses JomCharge, Gentari Go and ChargEV as its charging operators, so those three are the ones to install for a road trip. It plans to reach 350 points by 2028.
Charging step by step
- Find a charger in the app. Filter by plug type and power, and look at the live status. A charger shown on a map isn't always working or free when you get there.
- Park in the bay and open the car's charging flap. DC chargers have their cable fixed to the unit. For AC, check in the app whether the point has its own cable or expects you to bring one.
- Start the session in the app, usually by scanning a QR code on the charger or picking it from a list, then plug in.
- Stop it in the app when you've got what you need, unplug, and move the car so the next driver can use the bay.
What it costs
Each network sets its own rates and shows them in the app before you start. Some charge by the minute and some by the kWh, which matters: on a per-minute charger, a car that charges slowly pays for the time, not the energy. Compare in the app before you plug in. We don't print rates here because they change. For a fuller picture of running an EV here, see our guide to EV ownership costs in Malaysia.
Charging a Grandpride EV
The fleet has two fully electric cars: the Porsche Taycan at RM 3,900 a day and the BMW i7 at RM 3,300 a day. For a day or two in the Klang Valley you may not need to charge at all. Before a longer rental, confirm the details at handover CHECK: the charge level an EV should be returned at, whether a charging cable comes with the car, and which plug type each car uses. Our guide to EV rental in Malaysia compares the two cars and their range. The i7 can also be booked with a chauffeur, in which case the charging is the driver's concern, not yours.
Is there EV charging on Malaysian highways?
Yes. The North–South Expressway and the LPT2 on the east coast have DC fast chargers at R&Rs, lay-bys and petrol stations, all with CCS2 plugs. Check them in the app before you rely on one; our KL to Penang EV road trip names the stops northbound.
Which app should I download first?
Gentari Go, JomCharge and ChargEV, because they are the operators on the PLUS highway chargers, and you'll find them in town too. Register and add a payment card at home on Wi-Fi, not at the charger with one bar of signal.
Can I charge at my hotel?
Ask the hotel before you book. Some have chargers in their car park, and some keep them for residents or particular guests. An overnight AC charge where you sleep is the least fussy way to start each day full.
