Aside from announcing a new EV-specific number plate series, the Road Transport Department (JPJ) also revealed the design of the number plate made specifically for EVs in Malaysia. Dubbed JPJePlate, the new design is mandatory on all EVs registered from today onwards (9 September), and it is quite different from standard number plates.

Sourced from Tonnjes, a German company, the new plate design does have characteristics of an European style plate. Not only is it made of aluminium with embossed letterings, it also has a white background, black lettering, as well as the Malaysian flag and country code on the left side of the plate. There’s a colour code on the same side too; green is chosen to denote EVs.

Aside from that, the front plate number also has an RFID chip installed; there’s also a similar RFID sticker that is to be installed on the windscreen. JPJ says that the RFID chip is meant to be used for an “Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) ecosystem” in the future, so at the moment, it should only be there for futureproofing.

At the moment, only car manufacturers and business partners will handle registration of the new JPJePlate for EVs. It also costs RM98, which is higher than the cost quoted by various carmakers for number plate fees. Sime Darby Motors, for one, charges RM80 for plate fees, so it will be interesting to see if the extra charges will be transferred to consumers.

More details on the new JPJePlate for EVs can be found on JPJ’s official website. If you’re an existing EV owner, you can also register your interest to change to the new plate from November onwards, as reported by Paultan.org.