@ green | May-June. 2026

“ For transport operators, manufacturers and exporters, ESG performance is steadily becoming intertwined with business competitiveness, access to financing and international market positioning."

� Malaysia’ s EV truck push reflects growing ESG pressures on logistics and freight operators to reduce carbon emissions and modernise supply chains.

�Electrifying heavy transport could support Malaysia’ s net-zero ambitions while reducing reliance on costly diesel subsidies.

� Long-term success will depend on governance, infrastructure readiness, financing support and equitable transition policies for smaller operators.

Malaysia’ s proposed push towards electric vehicle( EV) trucks is rapidly evolving beyond a transport policy discussion into a broader Environmental, Social and Governance( ESG) imperative.

A new ultra-fast electric vehicle( EV) charging hub planned for Kuala Lumpur International Airport( KLIA) Terminal 2 is expected to strengthen Malaysia ' s green mobility infrastructure and support the country ' s transition towards lowcarbon transportation.

Set to open by the end of Jul 2026, the public facility will feature 12 charging points powered by Huawei FusionCharge liquid-cooled DC chargers. The station will also incorporate an energy storage system, helping to optimise power usage and charging performance.

The project is backed by an estimated HK $ 5 million( RM2.7 million) in funding, fully sourced from Hong Kong. According to Powerlink Asia Co-Founder Ethan Chen, the initiative represents more than just infrastructure development, reflecting wider efforts to foster sustainability-focused cooperation between Malaysia and Hong Kong.

Anthony Loke

As the government studies incentives to accelerate EV truck adoption, the move reflects a growing recognition that heavy transport decarbonisation will play a critical role in Malaysia’ s sustainability agenda, fiscal resilience and industrial competitiveness.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke recently revealed that Putrajaya is considering incentives for EV trucks as the nation grapples with a diesel subsidy bill that has reportedly surged to RM2.5 billion monthly.

“ The government should incentivise operators to use EV trucks because our diesel subsidy bill is especially high right now,” said Loke.

ESG MOVES INTO THE LOGISTICS LANE

The logistics and freight sector has increasingly come under ESG scrutiny globally due to its significant carbon footprint.

Heavy commercial vehicles remain among the largest contributors to transport-related greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in economies heavily dependent on road freight movement, such as Malaysia.

For corporate Malaysia, the pressure is no longer confined to regulatory compliance alone. Investors, multinational clients and supply chain partners are increasingly demanding measurable decarbonisation strategies

" We want Hong Kong and Malaysia to work together in building a green transformation," he told reporters after the groundbreaking ceremony.

Developed through a partnership between Huawei Technologies( Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Powerlink Asia Sdn Bhd and GM Auto EV Sdn Bhd, the charging station will combine expertise from technology, ownership and operational partners. Huawei will supply the charging technology; Powerlink Asia will own the facility, and GM Auto EV will manage its day-to-day operations.

Speaking at the launch event, Selangor State Legislative Assembly Speaker Lau Weng San said the project could serve as a model for future EV infrastructure developments both within the region and beyond. throughout logistics ecosystems.

This is especially relevant as global manufacturers and exporters begin assessing Scope 3 emissions— indirect emissions generated across supply chains, including transportation and delivery networks.

As a result, companies operating large diesel fleets may eventually face mounting pressure to transition towards cleaner transport systems to remain competitive within international ESG frameworks.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

The environmental argument is perhaps the clearest.

Electrifying commercial transport could substantially reduce carbon emissions, urban air pollution and dependence on subsidised fossil fuels. Malaysia’ s transport sector remains one of the country’ s largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.

Reducing diesel dependency also strengthens long-term energy transition goals under the National Energy Transition Roadmap( NETR) and Malaysia’ s broader commitment towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Beyond carbon reduction, EV adoption could also improve air quality in densely populated industrial and urban corridors where freight vehicles operate heavily.

He explained: " If this project proves sustainable in Malaysia, in Selangor and across Southeast Asia, I am very sure we can roll out this model not only to the rest of Southeast Asia but also to every part of the world in the near future."

As EV adoption continues to gain momentum, the introduction of dedicated charging facilities at major transport hubs is increasingly seen as an important component of building a more connected and sustainable transport network.

Also present at the ceremony were Hong Kong Web3.0 Standardisation Association President Dr Li Ming, Powerlink Asia Co-Founder Ethan Chen and Terminal Operations Director Jimmy Neo. – @ green