Electric vehicles (EVs), widely promoted as a solution to climate change, could paradoxically increase carbon emissions in Malaysia unless the country overhauls its electricity grid, according to energy expert Dr Muhammad Ammirrul Atiqi Mohd Zainuri.
The senior lecturer at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia explained that Malaysia’s power network—comprising generation and transmission—still relies heavily on coal and gas. Charging EVs under this system can produce nearly as much carbon as conventional petrol cars.
“EVs can, in theory, generate higher lifecycle emissions than internal combustion engine vehicles when electricity is still largely sourced from fossil fuels,” Muhammad Ammirrul said, responding to a recent RimbaWatch report that challenges the assumption that EV adoption automatically reduces emissions.
The report estimated that if all 825,000 vehicles registered in Malaysia last year had been electric, annual emissions in Peninsular Malaysia could have reached 3.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent, after factoring in battery production, electricity generation, and battery replacements.
While EVs eliminate tailpipe emissions, the lecturer stressed the importance of assessing their full lifecycle impact, including emissions from battery manufacturing and electricity consumption for charging. “Without transitioning to renewable power, switching to EVs may ironically increase total carbon output instead of reducing it,” he said.
The contrast between Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak underscores the influence of electricity sources. In Sarawak, where over 60% of power comes from renewables, EVs emit just 68 grams of CO₂ per kilometre, compared with 166 grams for petrol cars. In Peninsular Malaysia, fossil fuel-based electricity negates vehicle-level emissions savings.
Muhammad Ammirrul warned that rapid, large-scale EV adoption could strain the national grid and worsen emissions in the short term. “Mass adoption would sharply increase electricity demand, much of which is still generated from coal and gas. Replacing petrol cars with EVs without decarbonising the grid merely shifts pollution from roads to power stations,” he said.
He urged policymakers to adopt a lifecycle-based emissions framework, rather than relying on “tailpipe-only” logic, and suggested reforms such as road tax based on total vehicle carbon footprints. He also recommended prioritising electrification of public transport over private EV subsidies, and exploring technological solutions like off-grid solar charging, smart charging systems, and vehicle-to-grid technology.
Linking EV adoption to Malaysia’s broader energy transition, he said: “Electric vehicles alone aren’t a silver bullet – their impact depends entirely on the grid. Real emissions reductions can only happen once the energy transition takes place.”
The expert highlighted recent government initiatives, including the proposed carbon tax and RM16.5 billion in renewable energy investments by government-linked companies, as essential steps toward aligning EV policies with Malaysia’s National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR).
