Global logistics provider DHL International is exploring the possibility of using Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Bhd (Proton)’s to-be-launched electric vehicle (EV) as its medium of transportation in Malaysia.
DHL Asia Pacific Business Development Vice President Christopher Ong said
the company has already initiated talks with the national carmaker. “We are still in discussion with them and hopefully we will be able to test one of their electrical vehicles…maybe early next year,” he told a media briefing here today.
He said the use of Proton’s EV was in line with the company’s strategy of
reducing its total carbon emissions up to 30 per cent by 2020. The strategy includes introducing GoGreen programme, a programme focusing on improving DHL carbon efficiency, and providing GoGreen carbon neutral service, an all-inclusive carbon neutral transport service to customers who stress on carbon neutral shipments, he said.
Recently Proton announced that it was targetting to roll-out its EV to
the public in 2013. Ong also said the government should consider in its upcoming Budget to introduce several measures including imposing carbon tax to encourage people to reduce their carbon emissions and partnering with the industry to develop facilities for electric vehicles such as charging stations.
These measures have been taken in the western countries towards reducing
dependency on fossil fuel and encouraging people to invest in renewable
energy.
Such moves would accelerate the country’s target of reducing 40 per cent of its
carbon emissions by 2020, he added. DHL Express (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd’s Managing Director David Ng also suggested that the government provided incentives in the form of tax reduction to companies investing their capital expenditure in reducing carbon emissions. This will encourage other companies to make the same investment, he added.