14 hours ago
- Automotive
- Malaysian Reserve
New Energy Asia unveiled to empower EV charging growth in Malaysia, ASEAN
by SHAUQI WAHAB
NEW Energy Asia Sdn Bhd, a newly established joint venture (JV) between HICOM Engineering Sdn Bhd (HESB) and China-based Hangzhou Flash Charging New Energy Co Ltd (HFC), enters the Malaysian and ASEAN electric vehicle (EV) market with a wide range of high-quality and reliable EV charging solutions.
HESB is a subsidiary of DRB-HICOM Bhd, while HFC operates under Lotus Technology Inc.
The collaboration brings together HESB's industrial capabilities and DRB-HICOM's brand heritage with HFC's international experience in EV charging technology. The latter has a proven track record in delivering advanced charging infrastructure in markets such as China, Germany and Kuwait.
Present at the official unveiling of New Energy Asia were Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, HESB chairman and DRB-HICOM Group MD Tan Sri Syed Faisal Albar, Lotus Group CEO Feng Qingfeng, HESB COO Hazrin Fazail Haroon and New Energy Asia CEO Gordon Lee.
Syed Faisal stressed that climate change is a present and pressing reality and stated that the initiative goes beyond a symbolic gesture.
'Our Net Zero Carbon Initiative is more than a pledge. It is a concrete plan of action,' he said in his opening remarks.
He said DRB-HICOM aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 through a three-pillar strategy, namely operational efficiency, renewable energy (RE) transition and carbon accountability.
This involves upgrading facilities for energy efficiency, increasing the use of solar and wind power and publishing independently audited annual carbon reports to ensure transparency and progress. DRB-HICOM also plans to engage stakeholders through employee training, awareness campaigns and green incentives as part of its effort to foster a culture of sustainability both internally and externally.
'Let us walk this path together and let our actions today shape a better tomorrow,' Syed Faisal added.
New Energy Asia will distribute HFC's full range of EV chargers in the region, including premium Lotus-branded chargers such as the cutting-edge 450 kilowatt (kW) liquid-cooled all-in-one direct current (DC) charger.
This flagship product can charge the Lotus Emeya from 10% to 80% in just 14 minutes. Other offerings include 7kW, 11kW and 22kW smart AC chargers, as well as a wide selection of air-cooled and liquid-cooled DC chargers ranging from 30kW to 450kW.
These products can also be customised to meet specific user requirements.
During the launch, the company signed several memoranda of collaboration (MOCs) with local partners to further build out Malaysia's EV charger manufacturing ecosystem.
These partnerships will support research and design (R&D), industrial integration and the expansion of clean mobility infrastructure.
Hazrin Fazail revealed that the group is placing a strong emphasis on software integration and after-sales support to ensure reliability and long-term value for users.
Initial technical training for personnel is currently being conducted in Hangzhou, China, with continued collaboration to take place online.
He said these efforts are aimed at building internal capabilities ahead of local manufacturing.
Meanwhile, manufacturing of EV chargers is planned to take place in Malaysia within the next two years, subject to positive market traction.
Hazrin Fazail said this aligns with the company's vision for sustainable and locally driven production, which also includes hiring more software engineers to enhance system reliability and user experience (UX).
'This is an opportunity to have more software engineers come and join us as we build this capability,' he explained.
While the company does not plan to operate as a Charge Point Operator (CPO), it intends to work closely with CPOs in Malaysia to ensure compatibility and support.
The business model avoids direct competition in the CPO space, instead offering hardware and systems that enable broader EV ecosystem growth.
Looking ahead, New Energy Asia aims to penetrate the ASEAN market by offering both Lotus-branded and white-label EV charging products.
Beyond charging infrastructure, New Energy Asia will also supply advanced energy storage systems to address the growing demand for sustainable energy solutions in both residential and commercial markets.
The company has signalled its intent to become a key enabler of electric mobility in the region by working closely with stakeholders across the EV value chain.
This article first appeared in The Malaysian Reserve weekly print edition
