Incident highlights flaws in charging system and raises questions among netizens.
Malaysians are reeling from reports of Singaporean vehicles filling up with inexpensive petrol meant exclusively for Malaysian use, but the latest incident takes things to a whole new level. This time, it’s not petrol but electricity that a Singapore-registered electric vehicle (EV) was seen ‘stealing’ from a charging station.
The situation unfolded at a Shell Recharge DC fast charger in Tangkak, where a photo of the Singapore-owned EV being charged was featured in a popular Malaysian vehicle review website. According to the report, the driver stopped at the charging station and began charging the vehicle without using an app to pay for the service.
However, reactions among netizens suggest that the Singaporean driver may not be entirely at fault. The article noted that the Shell Recharge service is a paid facility; users must pay for access to the parking lot in order for the gate to lift, allowing them to park and utilize the charger through the ParkEasy app.
The DC charger itself does not require any verification, which enabled the BYD vehicle to charge without making a payment. Some commenters speculated that the driver may not have been aware of the payment requirement, shifting the focus of the discussion to the weaknesses in the charging system.
One user commented:
“Looking from a different angle, this is just bad implementation. It shows that the system is fragile and easily exploited, and our local vendors seem to be taking the easy route by charging customers through a ‘parking fee’ method rather than integrating a proper charging mechanism into the charger itself.”
