KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 19): CMS Consortium Sdn Bhd, whose business is to promote the usage of electric-powered vehicles (EVs) in the country, has inked branding agreements with Celcom Axiata Bhd, Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).

The agreements, said CMS executive chairman Datuk Seri Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir, will allow these three organisations to enhance their corporate branding through advertising on a fleet of EVs under CMS’ car sharing system.

According to Syed Zainal, who was formerly the managing director of national carmaker Proton Holdings Bhd, companies that advertise via its unique platform are eligible for a double-tax deduction from the government.

CMS’ car sharing system, known as Cohesive Mobility Solution (COMOS), aims to reduce traffic congestion, decrease fuel consumption and lower the carbon emission by 40% in 2020.

Besides the corporate branding scheme, Syed Zainal said the group has also identified EcoRide and a leasing scheme on its EVs as two other new business opportunities.

“EcoRide is a concept where tourists can rent our cars and explore the surrounding area on a guided tour using the GPS [global positioning system] installed,” he said, adding that it will offer the scheme in Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur in December.

On its EVs leasing scheme, Syed Zainal said the group estimates that companies stand to save leasing costs of RM30,000 over a 3-year period when compared to leasing non-EV vehicles.

He said CMS is discussing with other car manufacturers to get them on board the COMOS programme, hinting that BMW and Tesla could be possible newcomers, but "only if the overall infrastructure is in place".

Presently, CMS already partners Tan Chong Motor Holdings Bhd, which supplies Nissan’s Leaf and Renault’s Zoe and Twizy, under its COMOS programme.

To date, the group has received 46 units of Renault’s Zoe and is awaiting 30 units of Renault’s Twizy to be delivered in mid-November.

“Delivery of Nissan’s Leaf is expected to arrive by year-end,” he said, adding that CMS' inaugural deployment will be in Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi, which is also expected at year-end, followed by Malacca next year, and Penang and Johor by 2016.

On its capital expenditure, Syed Zainal updated that CMS has allocated between RM20 million and RM25 million in the next five years, with a target to complete building EV-charging infrastructures along the North-South Highway’s rest and service (R&R) areas by 2017.

He said the group has identified 60 charging station sites around Klang Valley but only 15 locations are near completion and some of them are on Jalan Medan Tuanku 1, Lorong Bunus 1, and Lorong P Ramlee.

Syed Zainal is also eyeing light rail transit (LRT) stations in Ampang Park, Pasar Seni and Bangsar for the group’s charging facilities as he deems the locations to be strategically situated in areas with dense population.

For the group’s next phase of growth, Syed Zainal said CMS will be expanding its footprint in Asia in the next five years, with the next immediate target being Bali in Indonesia and Phuket in Thailand.

“Our expansion target is always the tourism spots first for we see them as most relevant to our business. Once we have a firm footing in the domestic market, we will spread our wings to the regional market,” he said.