Charge+ to launch South-east Asia’s longest EV charging highway

ELECTRIC vehicle (EV) charging solutions provider Charge+ is planning to develop a 5,000 km EV charging highway with 45 direct current (DC) fast-charging stations across five countries in South-east Asia. The countries are Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and Vietnam.

On Wednesday (May 17), the green mobility unit of Sunseap Group said the charging highway will be the longest in the region, and among the longest of its kind in the world.

Charging stations will be located about 120 km apart on average, and either directly on the highway or less than 2 km from interchanges.

Charge+ has confirmed 18 out of 45 planned charging locations in the first phase of its project where it will invest in, own, and operate the charging stations. Charging stations in these locations are slated to be operational by end-2024.

Charging stations in the remaining 27 locations are expected to be ready by end-2025.

They will comprise charging stations owned by Charge+ as well as the company’s strategic partners which have allowed the company to roam with them, essentially enabling Charge+ app users to access the partners’ EV charging network.

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One of Charge+’s newest strategic partners is Thai state-owned enterprise Egat, which will provide a site in Thap Sakae – about 320 km south of Bangkok – for Charge+ to set up a DC charging station. Egat will also partner Charge+ on roaming such that Charge+ app users may access Egat charging stations in Thailand.

According to Charge+, its upcoming highway charging project will help to address longstanding concerns over the suitability of EVs for long-distance and cross-border usage due to a lack of charging infrastructure, particularly in more remote areas.

Chief executive Goh Chee Kiong expects the charging highway to “revolutionise societal perception of EVs” in South-east Asia.

Coupled with the Charge+ mobile application, planned charging stations along the highway will “provide EV drivers with the cross-border convenience and boost overall confidence in the transition to EVs as the eventual primary mode of land transport in South-east Asia”, said the company.