What is an EV charging pile?

Electric Vehicle (EV) charging piles are infrastructure devices that provide energy supply for electric vehicles, mainly divided into two types: alternating current (AC) charging and direct current (DC) fast charging. AC charging piles usually have lower power (3.7kW to 22kW) and are suitable for long-term parking at homes or commercial locations. For instance, Level 1 chargers are powered by standard three-pin sockets, while Level 2 requires dedicated equipment. DC fast charging piles have higher power (50kW to 350kW) and can charge the battery to 80% within 30-60 minutes. They are commonly found in highway service stations or shopping malls, such as the 60kW dual-port charging station deployed by ChargeSini at Sogo in Kuala Lumpur, with a charging rate of RM1.39/kWh. By the beginning of 2025, over 3,300 charging stations had been built nationwide, with DC fast charging accounting for approximately 30%. The government aims to achieve a target of 10,000 charging points by 2025, including 9,000 AC piles and 1,000 DC piles. As electric vehicle sales grow (projected to reach a 2.55% market share by 2025), the charging network is rapidly expanding to cover residential areas, major roads, and East Malaysia. For example, brands such as Exicom have introduced standardized equipment compatible with multiple vehicle models.