This is a petition to the Malaysian Government to re-introduce tax incentives for Malaysians to purchase electric vehicles (EV). Let’s face it, the mode of transport we own and use today is unquestionably the highest contributor of emissions that adversely effects our environment.

Contrary to popular belief, the electric car is not a new technology.  The first known electric car was built in 1837 while a version with a rechargeable battery appeared in 1859. Why did the electric car failed to take off?

It began with Henry Ford’s highly affordable Ford Model T that sold for US$825 in 1908 (US$21,650 today) and the discovery of cheap oil in the United States that saw the rise of the petrol car and the fall of the electric car.

Alas, an EV is not a Ford Model T when comparing prices and the lack of tax incentives have surely caused its demise in Malaysia. However, it is compellingly cheap to charge an EV such as the Nissan Leaf at RM7.00 for a full charge with a range of 180km. Best part is that I can charge the car at the convenience of my own home.

Tax incentives for hybrids and EVs introduced in 2011 were removed in 2014 with the exception that only locally assembled hybrids and EVs will receive tax incentives. The irony of this policy is that hybrids and EVs today are not affordable to the ordinary Malaysian while the locally assembled RM580,000 Mercedes S400 hybrid gets tax incentives.

The tax incentives introduced by the government in 2011 resulted in a massive growth of hybrid car sales in Malaysia, soaring to 8,403 units in 2011 and almost doubling to 15,355 units in 2012. Why stop a policy that has such a profound impact towards nation building and meeting our national objectives by year 2020?

If you are concerned about clean air, clean cars and putting Malaysia on a path that removes the environmental and economic implications of fossil fuels – go ahead and sign it!

 Target 25,000 signatures for this petition.

History of the Petroleum Industry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_petroleum_industry

History of the Electric Car https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_electric_vehicle

Henry Ford https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Ford