Shell just announced their new High Performance Charging (HPC) network and they claim that it’s Southeast Asia’s first cross-border 180kW charging network. It’s launching in Singapore and Malaysia and there will be a total of six Shell stations with 12 HPC stations along the North-South Expressway. This project is done in collaboration with Porsche with exclusive deals for Taycan buyers.
Here is a list of all the stations in Peninsular Malaysia planned to be part of the HPC network.
- SH Tangkak Lay-By (South Bound)
- SH Pagoh Rest Area (South Bound, Coming Soon)
- SH Seremban R&R North-South Expressway (South Bound, Coming Soon)
- SH Seremban R&R North-South Expressway (North Bound, Coming Soon)
- SH RTC Simpang Pulai (North Bound, Coming Soon)
- SH Tapah RSA North-South Expressway (North Bound, Coming Soon)
The petrol stations will have a 180kW DC charger with two charging points, meaning you can charge up one EV with the full 180kW or two at 90kW. They claim to be able to charge a Porsche Taycan up to 80% in just 30 minutes. Whether or not it can charge your EV up to 80% with the same speed depends on the model, but the BMW iX xDrive40 is able to go from 10% to 80% in 31 minutes with 150kW, so that might give you an idea of how fast 180kW can be.
These chargers unfortunately aren’t free. You have to pay a confirmation charge and you get charged for every five minutes of use. Although, you can use the ParkEasy app to pay, which is nice.
If you don’t have a membership, you need to pay a confirmation charge of RM4 and the rate would be RM20 every five minutes. That means you need to pay RM124 for 30 minutes of charging for that theoretical 80% charge.
For the ‘Gold’ membership, the annual fee is RM835 and the confirmation charge is the same at RM4. However, for the first 25 minutes, the rate is brought down to RM12 every five minutes. Every five minutes thereafter will cost RM5. This means you would need to pay RM64 for 25 minutes, which is cheaper, but this discounted price is only applicable for the first 10 charging hours per annum. There are also benefits like 10% cashback for all charging stations at Shell Recharge AC stations, a free one-hour reservation at the charging bay upon reservation confirmation, and RM1 pastries for every Costa Coffee purchase per charge.
If you’re a Porsche Taycan buyer, you get a free three-year Platinum membership and you get an even more discounted rate for the first 12 charging hours per annum. It’s the same RM4 confirmation charge with RM10 every five minutes for the first 25 minutes. Every five minutes thereafter will be RM5. You get the same benefits as listed above as well as access to Shell Recharge devices in Singapore at exclusive rates, complimentary coffee, and Shell Select Antibacterial Wipes.
Is this expensive? Kind of, but that’s the price you have to pay for rapid DC charging now. I find it interesting that they charge per five minutes instead of per kW. You also have to bear in mind that a lot of the current EVs can’t even accept 180kW of energy, so you wouldn’t be getting the most out for your money. There are free charging stations out there, but these fast HPC stations are a different breed. I hope to see the rates of these go down soon as more companies make their own networks.
This is one more step in the expansion of Malaysia’s EV network. Last month, BMW announced their public DC chargers in Ara Damansara and a few months back Malay Vehicle Importers and Traders Association of Malaysia (PEKEMA) announced their plan to set up 1,000 DC charging stations by 2025.
