International Transportation (71) 1 | 2019 10 Images: AHK Malaysia BEST PRACTICE Urban Mobility Urban development and e-mobility in Malaysia The German Programme “Export Initiative for Green Technologies” Urban development, E-mobility, Environment Increasing population and urbanisation of major cities are creating opportunities for development and more sustainable living. However, it exerts significant pressure on infrastructure and resources. Cities need to adapt change to improve air quality, reduce congestion and provide clean energy to their population. Urban planning policies need to develop to make the most of e-mobility and improve the urban ecosystem. Thus, e-mobility can achieve climate goals. The AHK Malaysia held a series of workshops for German speakers to share knowledge with Malaysian players in related fields. Yazmin Stoffer C onsidering the increasing population and urbanisation of major cities such as Georgetown in Penang and Kuala Lumpur, urbanisation is creating significant opportunities for social and economic development and more sustainable living. However, urbanisation is also exerting significant pressure on infrastructure and resources as well as contributing to climate change. Cities need to adapt change in energy, mobility and consumption to improve air quality, reduce congestion and provide clean and reliable energy to their growing population. In Malaysia 93 % of all households own a car. Of these, 54 % own even more than one car. In 2016, the transport sector alone contributed a 42 % share of energy consumption and CO 2 emissions (see figure 1). In response to these problems urban planning policies aim to develop sustainable strategies to adapt an integrated and assertive approach. Electric vehicles (EVS) have a great potential in the context of curtailing greenhouse gas emissions within the transport sector and as a solution to improve the quality of urban ecosystem. Furthermore, electrification of cars is a game changer in achieving climate goals. Malaysia as an automotive/ producing nation with its own National Automotive Policy (NAP), has one of the most ambitious automotive and mobility policies within the region, aiming to increase domestic participation in high value technology within its local industry through the implementation of development programmes in line with Industry 4.0. “The new path of the NAP review will address the elements of the current NAP focusing on various measures required to enhance the competitiveness of the industry with future technological trends”, said YB Dr. Ong Kian Ming, Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry. As the Malaysian automotive industry moves towards electric vehicles and new technologies for an eco-friendly future, it offers great potential for German companies. Germany is well-known for its dedication and success in renewable energy, and International Transportation (71) 1 | 2019 11 Urban Mobility BEST PRACTICE could provide insight on the e-mobility ecosystem. “Malaysia aspires to develop a mobility ecosystem with a comprehensive, well planned and intelligent mobility infrastructure, with talent development and business capacities to successfully implement such goals. Germany’s history of sustainable technological innovation is a great example for Malaysia to follow”, said Malaysia Automotive Robotics and IoT Institute CEO, Dato’ Madani Sahari while speaking to the media. In comparison to other countries within ASEAN, Malaysia has the lowest gap between its electricity and petrol & diesel prices (see figure 2). With currently approx. 90% share of fossil energy sources in electricity production, a short-term increase in the share of electrically powered vehicles would have no environmental impact. The combination of mobility (in particular motorised private transport) and the environment is undoubtedly highly relevant in Malaysian cities and is attracting a great deal of attention in the new government and administration as well as in the private sector and civil society. Against this background, under the German Programme “Export Initiative for Green Technologies” the Malaysian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK Malaysia) held two workshops on electro-mobility. Since 2016 the German Chambers of Commerce and Industry Abroad (AHKs) have conducted projects under this initiative in 20 countries in the fields of waste and water management and sustainable mobility. They connect stakeholders worldwide, foster discussions of solutions and identify points of contact for mutual projects. The Source: Biennial Update Reports (BURs) 2016, BUR2 2018, NEB 2015 Figure 1: Progress of energy consumption and CO 2 emissions in Malaysia (transport sector: red) Source: Biennial Update Reports (BURs) 2016, BUR2 2018, NEB 2015 $- $0.50 $1.00 $1.50 $2.00 $2.50 Malaysia Thailand Singapore Indonesia Philippine United Kingdom Japan Norway Germany USA South Korea Petrol Diesel Electricity Lowest & smallest gap to electricity price Data sourced from https: / / www.globalpetrolprices.com/ Figure 2: Gap between electricity and prices for petrol and diesel in different countries Data sourced from https: / / www.globalpetrolprices.com/ Figure 3: Workshop on Mobility 4.0, headed by Rauno Fuchs Partners involved - Malaysian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK Malaysia), www.malaysia.ahk.de - Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) - Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment & Climate Change (MESTECC) - Malaysia Automotive Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii) - German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) - Green City Experience GmbH - Chambers for GreenTech, DIHK Service GmbH - eeMobility GmbH - ebusplan GmbH International Transportation (71) 1 | 2019 12 BEST PRACTICE Urban Mobility Association of German Chambers of Commerce (DIHK) coordinates the project line. The Export Initiative for Green Technologies funded by the German Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) is based on the idea, that innovations in environmental protection, climate action and resource efficiency offer growth opportunities and lead to a more sustainable future. It focuses on the dissemination of technology, know-how and integral solutions. The workshops on e-mobility The timing for the workshops in Malaysia was opportune. In 2018 the Malaysian government changed for the first time in more than 60 years. The Malaysian pendant of the German BMU, the Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment & Climate Change (MESTECC) is led by the young and motivated Minister Yeo Bee Yin: She is ambitious in her pursuit of various goals such as increasing the share of renewable energy, fighting against plastic waste and the reduction of CO 2 emissions in the energy and transport sector. The German speakers corresponded well to the interest of the Malaysian participants. One of the main themes revolving around the workshops were Mobility 4.0: Setting the Scene for the City of Tomorrow, where Rauno Fuchs, CEO of Green City Experience GmbH, presented German concepts as well as case studies and elaborated on possible e-mobility solutions for Malaysian cities (figure 3). During the breakout session concepts for smart mobility solutions were developed as well as steps to creating an action plan for e-mobility to become the preferred mode of transport. Another main focus was set on electrified public transportation - The Connectivity Issue, Moving Low Carbon Transportation Forward. During this session Philipp Sinhuber, cofounder and Managing Director of ebusplan GmbH, shared concepts for the electrification of the local public transport (figure 4). This session was particularly significant for local bus operators to learn about different electric bus concepts that are available on the market alongside the vehicles and battery systems in addition to charging equipment. In depth concepts for smart mobility solutions - steps to creating a shift from conventional bus fleets to e-bus fleets were mapped out. Further the complexity of e-bus systems (vehicle + charging infrastructure) were elaborated according to the battery capacity and charging infrastructure. In smaller working groups, participants were trained to create operation and charging schemes for different fleet sizes taking into consideration 1. the service trip; 2. deadhead trip; 3. charging at depot; 4. break time; 5. delay buffer. The workshop clearly showed that the citizens as well as the bus operators are keen and open to the emobility shift. However, funds from the government are necessary to accommodate the hardware (charging stations, which require a full redesign of the bus depots) as well as software solutions that can collect and analyse driving-profile and the vehicle health-data. In conclusion, the e-mobility market seems to be at a very early stage at the moment. However, Malaysia’s technological openness, its pioneering role in the ASEAN countries and its own history in automotive engineering suggest that the Malaysian e-mobility market will develop rapidly. ■ Yazmin Stoffer Manager - Projects, Malaysian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kuala Lumpur (MY) yazmin.stoffer@malaysia.ahk.de BY THE WAY Malaysia on the rise A statement from Rauno Fuchs, CEO of Green City Experience GmbH Malaysia is on the rise. You can definitely see and feel that in the vibrant streets of Kuala Lumpur and Penang. What is well desired economically, is quite challenging for the growing cities and their urban development and traffic systems. There is already a lot of pressure on the mobility infrastructure and building new roads alone won’t solve the problems of traffic congestions, a city scenery that is dominated by cars, poor air quality and noise issues. With those challenges in mind, the workshops in Kuala Lumpur and Penang discussed new approaches in sustainable urban mobility planning and the potentials of e-mobility. There was a clear consensus throughout the German and local experts: there is a general need to reduce individual car traffic to further enhance urban sustainability, tackle air quality issues, and to generally improve the quality of life in Malaysian cities. E-mobility will be a big part of the solution, alongside the urgent enhancement of the public private transport system and - though currently not at all represented in the streets - cycling. In both workshops three things were addressed very clearly by the local experts: 1. There is a time-sensitive need for an explicit political will to change towards a sustainable traffic system before problems worsen. 2. Campaigns and education for the general public are needed to promote e-mobility and sustainable lifestyles. Therefore, local NGOs, sustainable mobility planners, associations as well as industry forerunners in the e-mobility field should be strongly supported by local authorities. 3. External support from the AHK Malaysia, industry partners and urban mobility experts is well appreciated to accelerate change towards a sustainable future. Figure 4: Workshop on local public transport, headed by Philipp Sinhuber