For those who are not familiar with chargEV, it is generally the closest that we have to a national EV charging network. It was originally established way back in 2015 by the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC), which is an agency under the Ministry of Environment and Water (KASA). This particular chargEV charger is located at Starbucks Eco Grandeur, Sungai Buloh. [Image: chargEV.]However, the operation of the chargEV network is now under the responsibility of YGT since February this year after it established a new joint venture with MGTC in which the company holds a majority stake. The network currently has more than 400 chargers all over the country and YGT is aiming to further increase the number to 2,500. As the Phase 1 deployment with Starbucks Malaysia, the chargEV chargers that have been installed at these 17 branches come in the form of either 50kW DC or 22kW AC chargers depending on the location. We have personally checked each of them through chargEV mobile app this afternoon and 18 out of 23 chargers are already online: Multi-Connector – 60kW DC CCS2 / 60kW DC CHAdeMO / 11kW AC Type 2 Starbucks Eco Grandeur, Sungai Buloh Starbucks Setia Alam, Shah Alam Starbucks Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam Starbucks Ukay Perdana, Gombak Two 22kW AC Type 2 Starbucks Jade Hills, Kajang Starbucks Reserve Eco Majestic, Semenyih Starbucks Eco Horizon, Simpang Ampat, Penang Starbucks Juru R&R, Perai, Penang Starbucks Skudai R&R (South Bound), Senai, Johor Starbucks Seri Austin, Johor Bharu, Johor One 22kW AC Type 2 Starbucks Conezion, IOI Resort City, Putrajaya Starbucks Bandar Rimbayu, Telok Panglima Garang Starbucks Icon City, Bukit Mertajam, Penang Starbucks Hillside, Tanjung Bungah, Penang Starbucks Tanjung Tokong, Penang Starbucks Malim Jaya, Melaka Offline (as of 4:00 PM – 2 November) Starbucks Bandar Seri Alam, Masai, Johor All these chargers are currently available for free until the end of October and can be activated through the chargEV mobile app. To celebrate the occasion, all chargEV-equipped Starbucks will be offering a 50% discount on their first Grande-sized Handcrafted Beverage to chargEV members starting from 1 November 2022 onwards. While EV owners are not required to sign up for chargEV membership which costs RM240 per year in order to utilise the chargers at these Starbucks locations, YGT still recommends it anyway. This is so that they obtain discounts on charging fees and also a physical membership card that might be needed to activate some of the older chargEV AC chargers out there.
