A recent fire incident at an electric vehicle charging system (EVCS) bay in Johor has brought to light a significant compliance issue. The company operating the EVCS, where a Mercedes Benz EQB model caught fire on December 31 last year, was found to be functioning without a license from the Energy Commission.
This revelation follows the Energy Commission’s statement, which emphasized that under the Electricity Supply Act 1990 (Act 447) and the Electricity Regulations 1994, it is mandatory for any energy supply activities, including EVCS installations, to operate with a valid license obtained from the Commission.
The incident, which occurred at a car showroom in Tampoi, Johor, resulted in the destruction of approximately 5% of the premises and 20% of the EVCS bay. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries.
“The responsible party and the company involved in the operation of the EVCS bay will be summoned to assist in the investigation,” said the Energy Commission in a statement issued on Thursday. The Commission is currently conducting an in-depth investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the fire.
In the wake of this incident and growing concerns over safety and compliance, the Energy Commission had already proposed on December 16, 2022, that operators of charging points involved in the development of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure should immediately obtain a valid public distribution license. This directive applies to all EVCS installations across the country, including those already in operation, with a deadline set for March 31, 2023.
