KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 21): Gentari Sdn Bhd, the clean energy arm of PETRONAS, is partnering Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD for the deployment of fast charging in Malaysia.

A pact signed on Wednesday will explore opportunities to deploy BYD flash charging for electric vehicles (EVs) in Malaysia, alongside battery energy storage systems, according to a joint statement. The parties will work together to identify the suitable charging locations, the statement read.

“Malaysia’s EV market is growing, but the next phase of adoption will depend on the quality, convenience and reliability of the charging experience,” said Sushil Purohit, chief executive of Gentari.

The partnership comes as Malaysia’s EV market continues to expand rapidly, with 53,537 new EV registrations recorded in the first nine months of 2026, nearly double from the same period last year.

Gentari currently operates more than 600 EV charging points in Malaysia though its Gentari Go Roaming Hub platform, which allows access to about 18,000 charging points across Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and India.

BYD claims that its flash charging technology can deliver about 400 kilometres of driving range in as little as five minutes for compatible vehicles under optimal conditions.

“Speed is one part of that equation,” Sushil said. “Drivers also need chargers in the right places, backed by reliable power and dependable operations.”

Under the memorandum of understanding signed in Shenzhen, Gentari and BYD will also study supporting infrastructure, energy storage requirements, technical and commercial considerations, project development opportunities, and potential operating models for deployment at scale.

The parties will also explore opportunities in renewable energy generation and energy storage, the statement added.