Country guide · Malaysia
EV Chargers in Malaysia: ST Approval, EVCS Licences, TNB Supply and Site Choices
Selling or installing EV chargers in Malaysia: ST Certificate of Approval and SIRIM label, EVCS licence rules, TNB supply, Type 2 and CCS2, tropical sites.
- Prepared by
- VULTAE Engineering Team
- Published
- Reading time
- 6 min
- Sources
- 8 references
At a glance
- Grid supply
- 230 / 400 V, 50 Hz
- AC connector
- Type 2
- DC connector
- CCS2 (some CHAdeMO)
- Product approval
- ST Certificate of Approval + ST-SIRIM label
- Operating licence
- EVCS licence (shared and public chargers)
- Utility (Peninsula)
- Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB)
- Public chargers
- 6,416 (31 May 2026)
- Target
- 30,000 charging facilities by 2030
Key takeaways
- 1Every charger model sold or installed in Malaysia needs a Certificate of Approval from the Energy Commission (Suruhanjaya Tenaga, ST) and an ST-SIRIM label before it is imported, sold or advertised. Plan the test reports and application before the first shipment.
- 2Supplying electricity to anyone other than the charger owner — public sites, shared condo chargers, employee charging — needs an EVCS licence from ST, whether the charging is paid or free. A private charger used only for the owner’s own vehicles does not.
- 3Malaysia had 6,416 public chargers on 31 May 2026, a third of them DC, and targets 30,000 charging facilities by 2030; 96 % of today’s network is in Peninsular Malaysia.
- 4Specify for heat, humidity, heavy rain and frequent thunderstorms: IP54 or better, surge protection on the supply side and corrosion-resistant finishes for coastal sites.
Contents
Short answer: to sell chargers in Malaysia, each model needs an Energy Commission (ST) Certificate of Approval and the ST-SIRIM label, applied for by a Malaysian company. Anyone who lets other people charge — a mall, hotel, condo or charge point operator — also needs an EVCS licence from ST, paid or free. Chargers run on 230/400 V at 50 Hz, use Type 2 for AC and CCS2 for DC, and are installed by ST-registered contractors with the supply agreed with TNB in Peninsular Malaysia or Sabah Electricity in Sabah. Sarawak has its own utility and electricity regulator, so check the local rules there separately.
Written for distributors, contractors, charge point operators and property owners buying chargers for Malaysia. It summarises public information as of October 2026 — confirm current procedures with Suruhanjaya Tenaga, SIRIM and your utility before you sign.
Two approvals: one for the charger, one for the business
Malaysia separates what the charger is from who supplies the electricity. Mixing them up is the most common cause of delayed projects.
| Product approval | EVCS licence | |
|---|---|---|
| What it covers | The charger model | The activity of supplying electricity through chargers |
| Issued by | Suruhanjaya Tenaga (Certificate of Approval) with the ST-SIRIM label from SIRIM | Suruhanjaya Tenaga |
| Who applies | The Malaysian importer, distributor or brand owner | The charge point operator or site owner, a company registered with SSM |
| Based on | Test reports to the applicable MS IEC standards (safety, EMC) | Company, technical and site information under the Electricity Supply Act 1990 |
| When | Before import, sale or advertising | Before chargers are opened to other users |
In June 2024 ST published the 7th edition of its Guidelines for the Approval of Electrical Equipment, which requires all EV chargers to meet the latest standards, with a one-year grace period that has now ended. If you are buying a model that was approved under older rules, check that its approval is still valid.
Who needs an EVCS licence?
| Situation | EVCS licence | ST-registered contractor |
|---|---|---|
| Landed home, owner’s own car | No | Yes |
| Condo, charger in the owner’s private bay | No | Yes |
| Condo, shared charger for residents | Yes | Yes |
| Company fleet, company vehicles only | No (per ST briefing, December 2025) | Yes |
| Staff charging personal cars at work | Yes | Yes |
| Hotel, homestay or mall letting guests charge (paid or free) | Yes | Yes |
| Public charging network | Yes | Yes |
For condominiums, the management body (JMB or MC) must agree in writing before cables run through common areas.
The market in numbers
| Indicator | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Public chargers, 31 May 2026 | 6,416 (4,273 AC, 2,143 DC) | MITI via Bernama |
| Share in Peninsular Malaysia | 96 % (6,176 units); Sarawak 208, Sabah 32 | MITI |
| Earlier figure, March 2024 | 2,214 (1,741 AC, 473 DC) | MIDA |
| Target | 30,000 charging facilities by 2030 | MITI |
| Charging prices | Not regulated by the government; set by operators | MITI |
Two openings follow for equipment buyers: DC on highways and in East Malaysia, where the network is thin, and AC in condominiums and workplaces, where most Malaysians will charge day to day.
Supply: what a site can take
| Supply | Voltage | Typical charger |
|---|---|---|
| Single-phase home | 230 V | 7.4 kW (32 A) wallbox, if the maximum-demand check allows it |
| Three-phase home or small commercial | 400 V | 11 or 22 kW AC wallbox or dual-port post |
| Commercial building, mall, office | 400 V low-voltage connection | Several AC posts plus 30–60 kW DC |
| Highway or hub site | Medium voltage with transformer | 120–180 kW dual-connector DC |
In Peninsular Malaysia the supply is from TNB and in Sabah from Sabah Electricity; Sarawak has its own utility and regulator. A maximum-demand assessment comes first: a single-phase house already running air-conditioning often cannot add a 7 kW charger at full current without load management or an upgrade. On commercial sites, ask the utility about the tariff and the maximum-demand charge before choosing DC power — see why a DC site’s power bill surprises owners.
Climate: heat, rain and lightning
Malaysia’s climate is easy on temperature limits but hard on electronics:
| Stress | What to specify |
|---|---|
| High humidity all year, condensation in car parks | Anti-condensation heating in DC cabinets; sealed cable glands |
| Heavy monsoon rain, open-air car parks | IP54 minimum, IP55 for exposed AC posts; drip loops on cables |
| Frequent thunderstorms | Surge protection (Type 1+2 at the board, Type 2 in the charger) and good earthing — see our surge and lightning guide |
| Coastal sites (Penang, Johor, Sabah) | Corrosion-resistant finish, stainless fixings |
| Sun on open forecourts | Shade canopy; ask for the derating curve at 40–45 °C cabinet ambient |
Recommended configurations
| Site | Typical choice |
|---|---|
| Landed homes | 7.4 kW single-phase or 11–22 kW three-phase wallbox, Type 2, app or OCPP |
| Condominiums | Wall units or dual-port AC posts with RFID and per-user billing; load management on the building supply |
| Offices and hotels | 2 × 7–22 kW dual-port AC; one DC unit for visitors |
| Malls | AC posts for long stays plus 60–120 kW DC near entrances |
| Highway rest areas (R&R) and fuel stations | 120–180 kW dual-connector DC, compact cabinets where forecourt space is tight |
| Fleet depots and logistics | 30–60 kW DC wallboxes or 120 kW dual DC, sized by daily energy |
Where VULTAE fits. Our IEC series run on 230/400 V at 50/60 Hz up to +55 °C: the VT-HW wallbox for homes, VT-CW and VT-CP dual-port AC chargers for condos, offices and malls, VT-DW DC wallboxes (20–60 kW) for depots and car parks, and the VT-DFC compact (120 / 180 kW) and VT-DF (60–300 kW) DC chargers for R&R and fuel stations — Type 2 and CCS2, OCPP 1.6J / 2.0.1, IP54–IP55 and a C4 anti-corrosion option. The ST Certificate of Approval and SIRIM label are applied for by the Malaysian importer for a specific model; we provide the IEC test reports, technical file and samples the application needs.
Checklist before you order
- Which Malaysian company will hold the ST Certificate of Approval — and do you have test reports to current MS IEC standards for the exact model?
- Does the site need an EVCS licence (anyone other than the owner charging)?
- Maximum-demand check with TNB or the state utility; three-phase upgrade if needed.
- Type 2 and CCS2 connectors; CHAdeMO only if your users still need it.
- IP54 or better, surge protection, anti-condensation heating for DC, corrosion class for coastal sites.
- OCPP 1.6J or 2.0.1, tested with your charging platform; per-user billing for condos.
- ST-registered electrical contractor for installation, with completion and test certificates.
- Local spare parts and trained technicians — see our spare-parts list.
Questions buyers ask
- Do EV chargers need SIRIM or ST approval in Malaysia?
- Yes. EV chargers are regulated electrical equipment. Each model needs a Certificate of Approval (CoA) from the Energy Commission (Suruhanjaya Tenaga) and the ST-SIRIM label, based on test reports to the applicable MS IEC standards, before it can be imported, sold or advertised. The application is made by a Malaysian company, usually the importer or distributor.
- Who needs an EVCS licence in Malaysia?
- Anyone who supplies electricity to other people through a charger: charge point operators, malls, hotels, condominiums with shared chargers and employers that let staff charge personal cars. The licence is needed whether charging is paid or free. In a December 2025 briefing, ST said a private charger used only for the owner’s own vehicles does not need an EVCS licence.
- What connectors are used in Malaysia?
- Type 2 for AC and CCS2 for DC are the norm for new vehicles and new public chargers. Some older DC sites also have CHAdeMO for earlier Japanese models. For new sites, Type 2 and CCS2 are the safe default.
- Can a home in Malaysia take a 22 kW charger?
- Only with a three-phase supply. Most landed homes have single-phase 230 V, which suits a 7.4 kW (32 A) wallbox if the maximum-demand check allows it. 11 or 22 kW needs a three-phase 400 V supply, which may mean an upgrade application to TNB. Installation must be done by an ST-registered electrical contractor.
- How many EV chargers does Malaysia have?
- According to the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, 6,416 public chargers were installed by 31 May 2026: 4,273 AC and 2,143 DC. The government targets 30,000 charging facilities by 2030.
References
- [1]EVCS licence — applicant criteria. Suruhanjaya Tenaga (Energy Commission).
- [2]Requirements to apply for a Certificate of Approval (CoA). Suruhanjaya Tenaga.
- [3]Malaysia’s Energy Commission updates guidelines for electrical equipment, grace period for EV chargers. 5M Global.
- [4]MITI: 6,416 public EV chargers installed nationwide as of May 2026. Bernama.
- [5]A total of 6,416 public EV chargers installed as of May 31, 2026; 30,000 targeted by 2030. Paul Tan’s Automotive News.
- [6]MITI maintains target of 10,000 EV charging stations by 2025. Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA).
- [7]Why EVCS licence applications were delayed. SoyaCincau.
- [8]EV charger installation requirements in Malaysia (2026). EV Guru.
