I believe everyone knows that the road tax for vehicles in Malaysia is calculated based on the engine capacity (cc). In this range, the government adopts the concept of “every extra cc has to pay more money” to calculate the road tax price.
For example, the road tax of Perodua Axia 1.0 is only RM20 per year, and the road tax price of Toyota Hilux 3.0G in West Malaysia is about RM1,609.
However, now that electric vehicles (EV) are the trend of the future, the government has also launched a number of tax incentive schemes to encourage people to buy electric vehicles.
And do you know how the road tax is calculated for an electric car without a traditional internal combustion engine, only an electric motor and a battery pack?
Compared with gasoline vehicles, it is calculated using the engine displacement (cc), while electric vehicles are calculated using the output power (kW) of the motor.
According to Paultan, the JPJ has formulated a set of road tax calculation tables for electric vehicles. This calculation table is based on the motor output power (kW) as the calculation unit. The higher the output power, the more expensive the road tax is.
For e-motorcycles with a motor output rated above 7.5 kW, the rate is calculated as:
- Above 7.5 kW to 10 kW – RM9
- Above 10 kW to 12.5 kW – RM12
- Above 12.5 kW to 25 kW – RM30
- Above 25 kW to 40 kW – RM40
- For e-motorbikes with an output of above 40 kW – RM42
As for private saloon motorcars – individual (code AB) and company registration (AC) – with a rated output of 80 kW and below, the rates are as such:
- 50 kW and below – RM20
- Above 50 kW to 60 kW – RM44
- Above 60 kW to 70 kW – RM56
- Above 70 kW to 80 kW – RM72
Vehicles with a rated motor output of above 80 kW will have a base road tax applied as well as a progressive rate calculated into the final sum. The road tax rate is calculated as follows, starting with a base rate and an additional rate for each kW increase:
- Above 80 kW to 90 kW – RM160, and RM0.32 sen for every 0.05 kW (50 watt) increase from 80 kW
- Above 90 kW to 100 kW – RM224, and RM0.25 sen for every 0.05 kW (50 watt) increase from 90 kW
- Above 100 kW to 125 kW – RM274, and RM0.50 sen for every 0.05 kW (50 watt) increase from 100 kW
- Above 125 kW to 150 kW – RM524, and RM1.00 for every 0.05 kW (50 watt) increase from 125 kW
- Above 150 kW – RM1,024, and RM1.35 for every 0.05 kW (50 watt) increase from 150 kW
Take the first-generation Nissan Leaf as an example. It has an 80kW electric motor, so it needs to pay an annual road tax of RM72. Taking the Tesla Model S P90D as an example, it is powered by a 345kW high-power motor, so it will need to pay RM6,289 in road tax per year.
The above is only limited to pure electric vehicles (EVs). If it is a general hybrid (Hybrid) or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model, it will be calculated according to the road tax list of general traditional vehicles.
In any case, the Ministry of Transport Malaysia Datuk Seri Ir. Dr. Wee Ka Siong has announced a few days ago that electric vehicles will be able to apply for an exemption from road tax for a period of 4 years. He said that owners of electric vehicles (EVs) can apply for a road tax (LKM) exemption from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2025.
